Department for Transport

Motorcycles

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the proportion of vehicles on (a) urban roads, (b) rural roads, and (c) motorways that are motorcycles in each year from 2014 to 2017.

Jesse Norman: The Department produces estimates of vehicle flows by vehicle type and road type. Based on 2017 estimates, motor-cycles accounted for 0.8% of motor vehicle flow on Britain’s roads.Proportion of motor vehicles that are motor-cycles by road type and year in Great Britain, 2014 - 2017 Year(a) Urban Roads(b) Rural Roads(c) MotorwaysAll Roads20141.2%0.9%0.4%0.9%20151.2%0.9%0.3%0.9%20161.2%0.8%0.3%0.9%20171.2%0.8%0.3%0.8% Further contextual information can be found on the data.gov.uk website here:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/road-traffic-statistics

Motorcycles: Noise

Sir Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 25 July 2018 to Question 164905 on Motorcycles: Noise, when his Department plans to publish the research it has commissioned to support police and highway authorities in combating and enforcing against excessive noise from motorcycles.

Jesse Norman: The independent research commissioned by the Department for Transport includes two phases. The first phase will includes a review of existing enforcement approaches and recommendations for best practice and instrumentation and is expected to be published in the first quarter of 2019. The results of the first phase will be trialled and analysed in the second phase.

Public Transport

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to further enable local authorities to encourage and prioritise the use of public transport on the road network by civil enforcement of traffic contraventions; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman: Almost all local authorities in England have now taken on civil enforcement powers for parking and bus lane contraventions, and the Department for Transport is engaged in discussions with several local authorities which have not yet adopted these powers but are interested in doing so. It is for each local authority to determine how it wishes to apply these powers, subject to the restrictions of legislation and statutory guidance. The Department has no current plans to enable local authorities outside London to take on civil enforcement powers for moving traffic offences, which are a matter for the police.

Roads: Safety

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to ensure the adequacy of funding for road safety initiatives by local authorities.

Jesse Norman: The Department is currently taking forward a number of road safety measures in accordance with its publicly stated road safety priorities, through the Road Safety Statement, which includes working closely with local authorities. In June successful bids for the Safer Roads Fund were announced. This was made available to enable local authorities to improve the 50 most dangerous stretches of ‘A’ roads in England. All bids from the local authorities concerned were successful for full funding and the Department will be investing £100 million to tackle these dangerous roads.

Railways: North of England

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for the start of (a) upgrading and (b) building new railway lines as part of the northern Powerhouse Rail programme.

Andrew Jones: Transport for the North (TfN) will submit their Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) for Northern Powerhouse Rail by the end of this year. As part of this work TfN are considering potential delivery timescales for the programme.

Roads: Safety

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to increase driver awareness of the dangers facing (a) cyclists, (b) motorcyclists and (c) other vulnerable road users.

Jesse Norman: On 22 November the Government’s response to the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS): safety review call for evidence was published. The response sets out a vision and a two year plan of action to help deliver the Government’s commitment to increasing cycling and walking and making our roads safer for vulnerable road users, including cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders. Among the key measures in the action plan, the Government has committed to reviewing the guidance in the Highway Code to improve safety for vulnerable road users. In addition, the forthcoming refreshed Road Safety Statement will focus on four priority user groups including young road users, motorcyclists, older road users and rural road users.

Railways: Japanese Knotweed

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support his Department is providing to Network Rail to facilitate the removal of Japanese knotweed from railway embankments.

Andrew Jones: The settlement agreed between my Department and Network Rail for England and Wales in the years 2019-2024 contains a very substantial provision for operations and maintenance, including vegetation management. The removal of Japanese Knotweed would come from this funding.

Transport: Per Capita Costs

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of transport spending per capita in (a) Wales, b) London and (c) the UK in each of the last five years.

Andrew Jones: Figures on public sector expenditure at a regional level are part of the Government’s Country and Regional Analysis (CRA) statistics. These provide statistical allocations of public spending according to where the benefits of that spend are accrued, although the complexity of transport networks means that it is not always possible or appropriate to allocate transport spending on a ‘who benefits’ basis. Where this is the case, expenditure has been apportioned based on actual regional spend rather than where the benefit lies. This is particularly relevant for the rail network and highways. When comparing expenditure across regions a number of factors should be considered. The benefits from spend on transport interventions will often accrue to people far beyond the residents of the immediate local area or region. This is particularly the case for spending on the railways which connect cities and regions across the country and deliver broader benefits beyond the region concerned. In addition, when expenditure is presented on a “per head of population” (or “per capita”) basis, it does not account for the pressure that large numbers of commuters and visitors from outside of a region can add to the transport networks. The latest CRA statistics, published by HM Treasury on 20th November 2018, include total public expenditure on transport per capita on a regional basis from 2013-14 up to 2017-18, and are published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/country-and-regional-analysis. The statistics include spend on transport by all public sector organisations including the Department for Transport, Local Authorities, Public Corporations (in the case of transport, this is mainly spend by London Underground) and other Government Departments including devolved administrations. The Department for Transport does not allocate funding to transport on a ‘per head of population’ basis. Investment decisions are based on a rigorous and fair appraisal process that ensures spending goes to the projects and programmes where it delivers greatest value-for-money for both taxpayers and passengers.

Electric Vehicles

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the effect of reducing incentives for plug-in (a) hybrid and (b) electric cars on the number of purchases of those vehicles.

Jesse Norman: Based on our internal assessment, following the change in grant rates we expect sales of ultra low emission cars to continue at similar levels in 2019 to those seen this year.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Employment: Electronic Tagging

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the efficacy of proposals for employers to be able to microchip employees.

Kelly Tolhurst: Holding answer received on 20 November 2018



We have not yet been asked to assess such proposals. However, it is not for Government to say what practices would be effective or beneficial for a particular employer. As long as their actions comply with all relevant legal requirements, an employer is free to decide what employment practices to follow.

Lidl: Evictions

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the number of jobs that have been lost as a result of commercial evictions arising from land acquisition by Lidl.

Kelly Tolhurst: The information requested is not available from official sources. Land acquisition deals are a commercial matter for the parties concerned, and the use/reuse of purchased land is for the relevant local authority.

Retail Trade: Urban Areas

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to support high street retailers increase footfall.

Kelly Tolhurst: This Department is clear that we want all types of retail to thrive now and in the future, and wants to support the sector as it responds to change. This is why in March we established the industry led Retail Sector Council to bring Government and industry together to boost the sector’s productivity and promote its future.In addition, in Autumn budget 2018, we announced a number of measures as part of an Action Plan, led by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to support the sustainable transformation of our high streets. This plan includes:A £675m Future High Streets Fund, to support local areas in England to invest in town centre infrastructure, including to increase access to high streets and support redevelopment and densification around high streets. The Fund will also support the regeneration of heritage high streets (up to £55m of the overall Fund). MHCLG has published a fact sheet setting out more details about the Fund Supporting local leadership with a High Streets Taskforce, giving high streets and town centres expert advice to adapt and thrive. This will provide hands-on support to local areas to develop data-driven innovative strategies and connect local areas to relevant experts A planning consultation to help support change on the high street. This will aim to make it easier for high streets to adapt for the future, with a wider range of retail, residential and other uses. A second consultation will be published in 2019, including how to support the more effective use of tools such as Compulsory Purchase Orders and Local Development Orders Piloting a register of empty commercial properties to support wider regeneration of our high streets and town centres Launching an ‘Open Doors’ pilot in five town centres to bring empty properties back into use by matching landlords of vacant premises with local community groups looking for space. This Action plan is in addition to existing measures including: An expert panel chaired by Sir John Timpson, whose recommendations informed the budget package. The panel are drawing on existing evidence and their own experiences to investigate the challenges facing our high streets and town centres and to advise on the best practical measures to help them thrive now and in the future. We look forward to receiving their full recommendations. The Future High Street Forum, chaired by the Minister for High Streets. The Forum consists of developers, investors and retailers. It provides joint business and government leadership to better enable our high streets and town centres to adapt and compete in the face of changing consumer and social trends. Government support for Business Improvement Districts, recognising the important role they play in allowing local businesses to work together to shape and improve their high streets and towns.

Solar Power: Housing

Dr Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many electricity suppliers offer power purchase agreements for the procurement of power from solar generators on domestic homes.

Claire Perry: Power purchase agreements (PPAs) are private agreements and suppliers are not required to report on whether they are offering PPAs to domestic solar generators.

WH Smith: Post Offices

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government plans to use money from the public purse for (a) redundancy and (b) compensation payments as a result of the upcoming franchising of post office branches to WHSmith; and what estimate has been made of those payments.

Kelly Tolhurst: While the Government sets the strategic direction for the Post Office, it allows the company the commercial freedom to deliver this strategy as an independent business. Decisions around franchising and staff employment are both operational matters of commercial judgement for the Post Office.

WH Smith: Post Offices

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government has (a) sought and (b) obtained guarantees from WH Smith that post office staff will not be (i) made redundant and (ii) moved to roles with (A) poorer working conditions and (B) lower pay after their branches are franchised.

Kelly Tolhurst: As an independent organisation, the Government has no in the day to day running of the Post Office. However, the Post Office has been clear in its duty of care for any staff affected. Staff affected have the right to transfer their employment to the franchise partner under protected existing terms and conditions in line with Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations (TUPE) or voluntarily leave with a settlement.

Copyright: EU Action

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Trilogue process in relation to the EU Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market, whether the Government plans to support the inclusion of provisions to ensure that creators receive fair remuneration for the use of their works.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Government supports the principle that creators should be fairly rewarded for their work whilst ensuring that we continue to encourage investment in new content and innovative services. We are engaging with our European partners to achieve these aims during Trilogue negotiations on this Directive.

Copyright: EU Countries

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the reciprocal relationships the UK has with the EU that enable collective management organisations to collect royalties from EU countries and distribute to creators in the UK.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Government has considered this issue in the context of its Brexit analysis. It has concluded that the reciprocal arrangements between UK Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) and EU CMOs to collect royalties from EU countries and distribute to creators in the UK are private commercial agreements which are expected to continue after the UK has exited the European Union.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Brexit

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 19 November to Question 190945 on Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Brexit what information his Department holds on non-disclosure agreements on issues relating to the UK leaving the EU with (a) companies, (b) industry bodies and (c) other organisations.

Richard Harrington: The information requested is not held centrally.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Wildlife: Smuggling

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the declaration from the recent London Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade, what progress his Department has made on implementing the declaration of the previous such conference in 2014.

Mark Field: The implementation of the 2014 London Conference Declaration has been led by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has supported this work both financially and through our overseas network of posts which is working with international organisations, governments, NGOs and businesses across the globe to combat Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT).Between 2014 and 2021 Her Majesty's Government will be investing over £36 million on action to tackle IWT. Significant progress has been made, and since 2014 the UK has:- Funded 61 projects through the IWT Challenge Fund, including: training border force agents and prosecutors; campaigning to reduce demand in key markets; supporting legislative reform and helping communities to manage and benefit from their wildlife. It also funds projects tackling corruption.- Provided British Army personnel to train park rangers in key African states.- Supported INTERPOL's work on intercepting shipments of ivory, rhino horn and other illegal wildlife products and the International Consortium for Combatting Wildlife Crime in assisting Governments to strengthen their criminal justice systems and enhance enforcement capabilities.- successfully lobbied to increase the Global Wildlife Programme from $131m to $168m- Worked with UN, G20 and EU partners - as well as NGOs, business and law enforcement experts - to build a global coalition against IWT.A raft of new measures were announced at the London 2018 conference which build on the commitments being implemented following the IWT conferences in London in 2014, Kasane in 2015 and Hanoi in 2016. 57 countries have adopted the London 2018 Declaration, with more expected to sign. We will continue to work with our international partners to make further progress on the commitments pledged at all the IWT conferences.

Syria: Military Intervention

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the implications are for his Department's policy of the US Government's recently stated policy to remain committed to military intervention in Syria as long as Iranian forces retain a presence in that country.

Alistair Burt: ​The United States' military action in Syria is a part of the Global Coalition against Daesh, of which the UK is also a key member. The Coalition's objective in Syria is securing the defeat of Daesh. We welcome the United States' continued commitment to a peaceful solution of the Syrian conflict consistent with UN Security Council resolution 2254.

Syria: Peace Negotiations

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of progress on negotiations between the Syrian Democratic Council and the Government of Syria.

Alistair Burt: We are aware that talks were held between the representatives of the Syrian Democratic Council and the Syrian regime in summer 2018. These talks do not appear to have achieved significant progress.

Sub-Saharan Africa: Immigrants

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the validity of recent reports by the Moroccan Association of Human Rights of a recent increase in attacks against sub-Saharan African migrants in Morocco.

Alistair Burt: ​Her Majesty's Government is aware of a recent reports by the Moroccan Association of Human Rights and others. Worldwide, we continue to emphasise the importance of respecting the human rights of migrants and we will raise concerns with the Moroccan authorities when appropriate. We continue to work alongside European partners to tackle the shared challenge of illegal migration, including efforts to deter people from making perilous journeys, providing humanitarian assistance to vulnerable migrants and targeting the people smugglers and traffickers who exploit their desperation.

Lebanon: Politics and Government

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the progress of talks on reaching agreement on the formation of a unity government in Lebanon.

Alistair Burt: ​While we welcome Lebanon's first parliamentary elections since 2009, which took place in May, it is disappointing that a new Lebanese government has not yet been agreed. We welcome the efforts of Prime Minister designate Saad Hariri in attempting to form a government. We continue to call on all Lebanese parties to agree without delay a balanced and unified Lebanese government capable of addressing the crucial issues facing the country.

Iraq: Armed Forces

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Iraqi counterpart on the integration of members of the popular mobilisation units into that country’s national armed forces.

Alistair Burt: ​On 14 November I raised with Foreign Minister Al Hakim the need for reform of the Iraqi security sector, which should include bringing security forces and militias under the control of the Government of Iraq. The Prime Minister also raised this message with Iraqi Prime Minister Abdul Mehdi by phone on 26 October. We will continue to make this clear to the Government of Iraq at all levels.

Diplomatic Service

Derek Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure UK citizens overseas are able to register at UK embassies in order to receive consular support and information.

Harriett Baldwin: British nationals do not need to register at British Embassies to receive consular support and information. Information about our services is available on Consular services - GOV.UK. People needing assistance can contact us by telephone 24/7 by calling the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London or a British Embassy or Consulate overseas. Our operators provide information and advice about the consular services available. Where they are unable to help the caller to resolve the issue themselves, and/or when they judge that the caller needs urgent assistance, they will pass the call to the nearest embassy, or, if the embassy is closed, to our Global Response Centre in London.The FCO encourages people to subscribe to FCO travel advice email alerts "living in” guides, follow FCO Travel on Facebook and @fcotravel on Twitter for updates and to follow the nearest British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate on Twitter and Facebook. FCO travel advice is updated frequently during a crisis and is often the best source of information and advice for those affected.

Israel: Palestinians

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the effect of Israel’s Regional Tracks for Peace project on the viability of a future Palestinian state.

Alistair Burt: ​While we have not made any assessment of Israel’s Regional Tracks for Peace project, the UK is strongly supportive of a regional approach to peace. The changing regional context, the Arab Peace Initiative, and converging Arab and Israeli interests presents an opening to develop Arab-Israeli relations and create the conditions for serious Israeli-Palestinian talks to resume

Israel: Hamas

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to support the ceasefire agreed between the Israeli Government and Hamas on Tuesday 13 November 2018.

Alistair Burt: ​We urge restraint from all parties and welcome the return to calm in recent days. We strongly support the mediation efforts of the international community led by Egypt and the UN and urge continued talks aimed at finding an enduring peace in Gaza. In order to protect civilians it is crucial a ceasefire is agreed and maintained as part of a political process that sees the Palestinian Authority return to Gaza and the lifting of restrictions on the Gazan people and economy.

Ali Rashed al-Asheeri

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Bahraini counterpart on the detention of former Bahraini MP Ali Rashed Al Asheeri.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and our Embassy in Bahrain are monitoring the case of Ali Rashed Al Asheeri.

Ali Hajji and Naji Fateel

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has made representations to his Bahraini counterpart on reports of acts of reprisal against Ali Hajji and Naji Fateel in Jau Prison, Bahrain since those cases were highlighted by British Parliamentarians.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and our Embassy in Bahrain are aware of the cases of Ali Hajji and Naji Fateel.We encourage those with concerns about treatment in detention to raise them with the appropriate Bahraini human rights oversight body. We continue to encourage the oversight bodies in Bahrain to carry out thorough and swift investigations into any such claims.

Taiwan: Climate Change

Scott Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department recognises Taiwan’s efforts and contribution on combating climate change; and if his Department will support Taiwan’s participation as an observer in the 24th Session of the Conference of the Parties under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change which will take place in Poland in December 2018.

Mark Field: The British Government welcomes the contribution Taiwan voluntarily makes in combating climate change, despite not being a signatory to the Framework Convention on Climate Change, and we continue to work closely with Taiwan on this matter. The British Government has also consistently stated its support for Taiwan’s participation in international organisations where we believe Taiwan has a valuable contribution to make on issues of global concern. This includes the issue of climate change, which does not recognise the concept of territorial boundaries. Taiwan is sending a delegation to Katowice.

Nigeria: Islam

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in Nigeria on the response of that country’s security services to recent demonstrations by members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria.

Harriett Baldwin: ​We have raised our concerns about the levels of violence and numbers of people killed with the Nigerian Foreign Minister and the President's Chief of Staff. We welcome commitments by the Government of Nigeria to conduct a thorough investigation and to take appropriate action to hold accountable any member of the security forces held responsible for violations of Nigerian law. It is essential that security forces act in accordance with international law and work to protect civilians. We continue to follow events closely, and encourage all parties to work together to enable the people of Nigeria to exercise freedom of expression and religious belief safely, peacefully and in line with the rule of law.

British Nationals Abroad: Prisoners

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK nationals are currently in prison abroad, and what data his department holds on where those people are imprisoned.

Harriett Baldwin: ​As of May 2018, we are aware of 2,325 British nationals in detention in 114 countries abroad. This can include British nationals in immigration detention, in police custody, on remand awaiting trial, and sentenced prisoners. We collate detainee statistics twice a year from our case management system records to provide a snapshot of the number of British national arrest/detention cases reported to us. Consular data, including arrest/detention cases by location is publicly available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/foreign-commonwealth-office-consular-data-2018

Bangladesh: Sexual Offences

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK sexual violence experts are currently deployed in refugee camps in Bangladesh.

Mark Field: ​No members of the UK’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) Team of Experts are currently deployed in Bangladesh to date. Six members of the PSVI Team of Experts have been deployed to Bangladesh by this Department in support of survivors of sexual violence among Rohingya refugees. These experts have been deployed, for example, to build the capacity of others, including through training on gathering and preserving evidence of sexual violence in line with the International Protocol on Investigation and Documentation of Sexual Violence in Conflict. There are 37 people with a range of skills in the PSVI Team of Experts, such as Criminal Lawyers, Gender Based Violence Experts, and International Investigating Officers. These deployments form part of the UK’s wider £129 million humanitarian response to the crisis.

Sexual Offences

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of funding available for the UN Trust Fund for victims of sexual violence; and for what reason the UK has not contributed to that fund.

Mark Field: ​As I said in answer to the Rt Hon Emily Thornberry MP on 9 November, the UN does not have a specific trust fund for victims of sexual violence. However, In March 2016, the UN Secretary-General established the UN’s Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, to provide greater support to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN and related personnel. We are studying this Fund’s effectiveness and whether it provides adequate support for victims of sexual violence before taking a decision on whether to contribute. The UK is committed to ending sexual exploitation and abuse by those who are entrusted with protecting some of the most vulnerable people in the world. That is why we have committed around $3m to supporting the UN’s work on this issue since 2016, and wholeheartedly support the efforts of the UN Secretary-General to tackle this issue robustly. The UK’s Safeguarding conference in October was an important milestone in advancing the international effort to eradicate sexual exploitation and abuse within the international development sector.

Matthew Hedges

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in the United Arab Emirates on the case of Matthew Hedges; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign Secretary discussed Matthew Hedges' case most recently with Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed on 25 November and the Emirati Ambassador to the UK on 21 November. I spoke to Deputy Foreign Minister, Anwar Gargash, most recently on 23 November. We welcome the news that Mr Hedges was given a Presidential Pardon on 26 November.

Human Rights

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to protect people who defend human rights across the world.

Mark Field: ​In 2017 the then Foreign Secretary issued a revised version of the UK Guidelines on Working with Human Rights Defenders to the diplomatic network. In addition, all Human Rights Priority Countries are required to have a Human Rights Strategy which includes working with human rights defenders. The Guidelines give guidance to our diplomatic network on how to support and promote the work done by human rights defenders. Depending on the local context, this might involve making public statements, attending trials, or working privately with host governments. The UK also supports human rights defenders through programmes within the Magna Carta Fund. Officials in London regularly meet human rights defenders to understand how we can support them best. Working at the multilateral level, in November 2017 the UK helped forge consensus on the UN General Assembly Resolution on Human Rights Defenders, bringing countries together to recognise and support the excellent work done by human rights defenders around the globe.

Afghanistan: Ethnic Groups

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the validity of reports of recent killings of Hazara people by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Mark Field: We are concerned by reports of civilian casualties and displacement resulting from recent Taliban attacks in districts predominantly populated by Hazaras. We continue to monitor the situation closely, especially in Ghazni and Uruzgan districts. We understand that the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces are working to stabilise the security situation in both provinces.The British Government continues to urge all parties to the conflict in Afghanistan to respect International Humanitarian Law, protect the civilian population and facilitate the provision of assistance by neutral and impartial humanitarian agencies. We urge the Government of Afghanistan to protect the rights of all ethnic and religious groups, including the Hazaras, in line with the Afghan constitution.

Department of Health and Social Care

Incinerators: Health Hazards

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care,  what recent research he has (a) commissioned and (b) considered of the effects on human health of municipal waste incinerators on people living within (i) 0.5 kilometre, (ii) 0.9 kilometre, (iii) 1 kilometre, (iv) 2 kilometres and (v) 5 kilometres of those incinerators.

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent evidence his Department has considered on the effects of waste incinerators on the health of people living downwind of such incinerators.

Steve Brine: Public Health England (PHE) funded the Small Area Health Statistics Unit, and King’s College London, to carry out a study to further extend the evidence base as to whether emissions from modern municipal waste incinerators affect human health. The first of a series of papers from this study was published on 22 November 2018. The paper ‘Fetal growth, stillbirth, infant mortality and other birth outcomes near UK municipal waste incinerators; retrospective population based cohort and case-control study’ is available to view at the following link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412018316398 The paper found no evidence of a link between exposure to particulate matter emitted from modern municipal waste incinerators as modelled from emissions data, or living close to modern municipal waste incinerators, and infant mortality, low birth weight, still birth or the other birth outcomes investigated. PHE’s position is that well run and regulated modern municipal waste incinerators are not a significant risk to public health. PHE will review its advice in light of new substantial research on the health effects of incinerators published in peer reviewed journals. To date, PHE is not aware of any evidence that requires a change in their position statement.

Waste Disposal: Health Hazards

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what comparative assessment his Department has made of the effect on public health of municipal waste incinerators and anaerobic digestion of waste.

Steve Brine: Public Health England has not undertaken any comparative assessment of the human health effects of municipal waste incinerators and anaerobic digestion of waste. In the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs’ forthcoming Resources and Waste Strategy the Government will be setting out more details on our ambitions for minimising the environmental impacts of waste whilst maximising its value as a resource. All waste operators are required to follow the waste hierarchy in managing waste. This means that they should take all such measures as are reasonable in the circumstances to prevent, reuse or recycle waste before considering recovery through incineration or sending to landfill.

Health Services and Social Services: Royston

Sir Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the timetable is for the decision by the Cambridge and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group on the options for an NHS and social care hub in Royston; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Brine: There is no current timeline for a decision on the option for a National Health Service and social care hub in Royston. Cambridge and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group’s (CCG) options appraisal has now been developed and it will be reviewed by the Cambridge and Peterborough Sustainability and Transformation Partnership in due course. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Sustainability and Transformation Plan, published in October 2016, identified the need to establish capacity within general practice to create integrated hubs across the local area. Cambridge and Peterborough CCG is considering Royston Health Centre and the Hospital sites with an aim to integrate and co-locate services. The CCG is committed to including local community groups in this process.

Children: Death

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2018 to Question 183314 on Children: Death, if he will make an estimate of how many child death reviews which identified trauma or external factors as the cause of death related to gang violence for each local authority area in England in each of the last five years; and how many of those child death reviews led to a Serious Case Review.

Caroline Dinenage: The Department for Education were responsible for data collection from local child death reviews prior to the policy transferring to the Department of Health and Social Care in July 2018. The child death review data collection is not a child level data collection. It is an aggregate collection at local level, so these further breakdowns cannot be provided. Whilst some information is collected at a local level on whether deaths were related to gang violence, numbers are very small and would be suppressed. It has not been possible to determine how many of the child death reviews in this category led to a serious case review, nor to provide a reliable estimate of how many were related to gang violence.

Waste: Health Hazards

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential effect on public health of reducing (a) household, (b) commercial and (c) industrial waste; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Brine: Public Health England has not made an assessment of the potential effect on public health of reducing waste. All waste operators are required to follow the waste hierarchy in managing waste. This means that they should take all such measures as are reasonable in the circumstances to prevent, reuse or recycle waste before considering recovery through incineration or sending to landfill.

Waste: Health Hazards

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential effect on public health of increasing the amount of waste that is recycled; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Brine: Public Health England has not made an assessment of the potential effect on public health of increasing the amount of waste that is recycled. Recycling in England has increased from 11% in 2001/02 to 44.9% in 2016. This is thanks to action by the Government and local authorities and also the support of the public wanting to recycle more. The Government wants to accelerate consistency in what is collected for recycling and to encourage more local authorities to recycle food waste to reduce which would help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from landfill.

NHS: Staff

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken to support the mental health well-being of NHS staff.

Stephen Hammond: Employers across the National Health Service are responsible for implementing a supportive, nurturing, learning culture enabling staff to thrive which will help improve and maintain their mental health and wellbeing. Organisations are being supported by NHS England’s NHS staff health and wellbeing framework which provides diagnostic tools and intervention options such as counselling and talking therapies to help trusts address staff mental health issues. NHS England’s 2017/19 Commissioning for Quality and Innovation incentive programme encourages trusts to provide services to improve staff mental health. To qualify for an incentive payment, trusts must demonstrate a 5% improvement or a 75% positive response rate in the percentage of staff suffering from work related stress plus one of the other two health and wellbeing related questions. NHS England is also expanding its practitioner health programme, a mental health support scheme to help doctors across the NHS. NHS Improvement is collaborating with 73 trusts to improve staff mental health by identifying 10 high impact actions to spread across the NHS including faster access to accredited occupational health services.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support charity-run mental health counselling services for (a) children and (b) adolescents.

Jackie Doyle-Price: In general, funding for mental health services, such as counselling, is the responsibility of local clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). Some CCGs may choose to use non-National Health Service providers, including those run by charities. It is up to the local CCG to make commissioning decisions. The Department does directly provide funding to third sector organisations through the voluntary, community and social enterprise organisation (VCSE) Health and Wellbeing Programme, which launched in 2016, replacing the previous VCSE grant funding and engagement programmes. A key part of the programme is the Health and Wellbeing Fund, and the theme for the Fund in 2019-20 is children and young people’s mental health. More information can be found at the following link:www.gov.uk/government/publications/vcse-health-and-wellbeing-fund-2019-to-2020-how-to-apply

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust: Vacancies

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many vacancies at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust have (a) arisen as a result of staff leaving the Trust and (b) been left unfilled for three months in each year since 2010.

Stephen Hammond: The information is not collected centrally in the format requested.

Food: Imports

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect on the supply of specialist medical nutrition products in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to ensure the maintenance of the supply of infant formula in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Stephen Hammond: The Government is working to ensure that the United Kingdom is able to cope with any potential delays at borders that may arise in the short term from the unlikely event of a no-deal outcome to our negotiations on exiting the European Union. Our planning will ensure that from the day the UK leaves the EU, we will have the necessary resources and contingencies in place to continue to protect patients and to ensure uninterrupted supplies of the foods they need, including foods for special medical purposes and infant formula.

Doctors: Migrant Workers

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which health trusts have employed the approximately 3,000 individuals who were allowed to join the medical register because they claimed to have a qualification from another country which exempted them from taking the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board exam.

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the medical discipline was of each of the approximately 3,000 individuals who were allowed to join the medical register because they claimed to have a qualification from another country which exempted them from taking the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board exam.

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many of the approximately 3,000 individuals who were allowed to join the medical register because they claimed to have a qualification from another country which exempted them from taking the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board exam are employed in the NHS in each (a) health trust and (b) medical discipline.

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps are being taken to verify the qualifications of the approximately 3,000 individuals who were allowed to join the medical register because they claimed to have a qualification from another country which exempted them from taking the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board exam; and how long that process is estimated to take.

Stephen Hammond: This information is not held centrally.

Prescriptions

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect on patient safety of the roll out by clinical commissioning groups of the prescription ordering direct service for repeat prescriptions.

Steve Brine: We have made no assessment of the impact on patient safety of such a service. Where clinical commissioning groups have made local arrangements for how repeat medication is ordered we would expect it to take account of the General Medical Council’s Prescribing Guidance, so repeat prescriptions are safe and appropriate to patient need.

Health Services: Greenwich

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Greenwich Clinical Commissioning Group's Patient and Public Engagement Strategy 2017 to 2020, what his Department's definition is of a seldom heard group; how many such groups it has identified; and if he will make a statement.

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department provides to clinical commissioning groups on ensuring that they involve patients through Patient Participation Groups; and how he plans to monitor the effectiveness of (a) that guidance and (b) clinical commissioning groups involving patients; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Brine: The Department and NHS England have not formally defined the term ‘seldom heard groups’, which is used by Greenwich Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). NHS England published statutory guidance for CCGs and NHS England on patient and public participation in commissioning health and care. A copy of this guidance can be found at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/participation/involvementguidance/ The CCG Improvement and Assessment Framework has an indicator (50) within the leadership domain that assesses CCGs involvement of patients and the public against a range of criteria including equalities and health inequalities. The indicator is based on the statutory guidance and so provides an assessment of CCG performance in this area. The 2017/18 data is available on MyNHS.

Doctors: Migrant Workers

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if the Government will take steps to suspend from the medical register individuals who have been allowed to join that register because they claimed to have a qualification from another country which exempted them from taking the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board exam until that qualification has been independently verified.

Stephen Hammond: It is a function of the General Medical Council (GMC), the independent regulator of doctors across the United Kingdom, to maintain a register of doctors in the United Kingdom. Where appropriate, it is for the GMC to investigate complaints about doctors on their register and assess whether they should be referred to the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, who determine whether any sanction should be applied with respect to their registration. The GMC is currently reviewing the qualification of currently licensed doctors, who applied for registration via a route allowing graduates of medical schools in certain Commonwealth countries to obtain registration based on their qualification alone. This route to registration ceased in 2003.

Contraceptives

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of closures of sexual health clinics providing contraceptive services since 2013; and what assessment he has made of the effect of such closures on women’s access to contraception.

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many sexual health clinics providing contraceptive services have closed in each local authority area since 2013.

Steve Brine: Closures of sexual health clinics providing contraceptive services are not monitored centrally. Local authorities are best placed to understand and meet the public health needs of their local communities. The Government has mandated local authorities in England to commission comprehensive open access sexual health services, including provision of free contraception. Contraception is also widely available free of charge through general practice.

Contraceptives

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many sexual health clinics have provided contraceptive services in each local authority area in each year since 2013.

Steve Brine: Data is available by the number of services returning Sexual and Reproductive Health Activity (SRHAD) Dataset by local authority area and is set out in the attached table. Other services may provide contraception but not complete a SRHAD return.



PQ194725 attached table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 23.25 KB)

Contraceptives

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many prescriptions of (a) contraceptive implants, (b) intra-uterine devices and (c) intra-uterine systems there have been in each year since 2013.

Steve Brine: Information on the number of items of contraceptive implants, intra-uterine devices and intra-uterine systems that have been dispensed to patients on the National Health Service using the FP10 prescription form is set out in the following table. No information is available for those prescriptions written but not dispensed. Information is not collected centrally on items supplied direct to the patient without prescriptions. Services such as Family Planning Clinics can supply direct to patients and these supplies are not captured in national prescribing datasets. Prescription items dispensed in the community in England  20132014201520162017Contraceptive implants159,237152,153153,381145,984139,877Intra-Uterine Device01,6394,8694,2294,258Intra-Uterine System133,361131,452121,983119,209125,037Source: NHS Digital Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) Notes:PCA DataPrescription information is taken from the PCA system, supplied by NHS Prescription Services, a division of NHS Business Services Authority, and is based on a full analysis of all prescriptions dispensed in the community i.e. by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England. Also included are prescriptions written in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man but dispensed in England. The data do not cover drugs dispensed in hospitals, including mental health trusts, or private prescriptions.Prescribers are general practitioners, hospital doctors, dentists and non medical prescribers such as nurses and pharmacists.Prescription ItemsPrescriptions are written on a prescription form known as an FP10. Each single item written on the form is counted as a prescription item.DataThe implants, devices and systems used in the response are listed below:-Etonogestrel_Implant 68mgImplanon_Implant 68mgNexplanon_Implant 68mgJaydess_Intra-Uterine Device 13.5mgLevosert_Intra-Uterine Dev 20mcg/24hrMirena_Intra-Uterine System

Reproduction: Health Services

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to introduce a strategy on women’s reproductive health.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Public Health England’s (PHE) reproductive health action plan will be published in 2019 and aims to demonstrate sustainable improvements in key reproductive health outcomes and reduce inequalities. Alongside this the Department has recently launched a Women’s Health Taskforce with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. This taskforce will look at action that can be taken to address women’s health issues. The terms of reference are currently being defined, but this group will look at women’s health across the life course.PHE is working closely with the Women’s Health Taskforce Group to ensure actions are aligned.

Medicine: Education

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has received any applications from Merseyside to establish a new medical school in that region.

Stephen Hammond: The Department does not receive applications for new medical schools. The General Medical Council has responsibility for the approval process for new medical schools.

Antidepressants: Children

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children have been prescribed antidepressants in each of the last five years.

Steve Brine: The information is not held in the format requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Social Services: Fees and Charges

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of people that have had to sell their home to pay for social care costs in each year since 2010.

Caroline Dinenage: The Government is committed to ensuring that people should not be forced to sell their home in their lifetime to pay for their care. Deferred Payment Agreements (DPAs) were introduced through the Care Act 2014 as part of the wider reforms of social care provided for in that Act.DPAs allow eligible individuals to access the equity in their home to pay for their care, without having to sell it and this provides individuals and their families time to make important decisions about their care and finances.Data on the number of people that have had to sell their home to pay for social care costs is not collected centrally.

Eating Disorders: Children

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) males and (b) females under 18 with an eating disorder have been admitted to a child and adolescent mental health inpatient bed in every year since 2010.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Data is not available in the format requested.

Psychiatric Hospitals: Children

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) males and (b) females under 18 years of age have been admitted to an child and adolescent mental health inpatient bed out of area in each year since 2010.

Jackie Doyle-Price: NHS England holds management data on children and young people under 18 years of age that have been admitted to an out of area child and adolescent mental health services inpatient bed, as shown in the following table. This data is only available from 2016/17 to 2017/18.Number of Out of Area AdmissionsFinancial YearGender2016/172017/18Male285298Female726731Gender not recorded5810Total1,0691,039

Social Services

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of a potential economic downturn on the ability of local authorities to meet their statutory social care duties.

Caroline Dinenage: Social care is funded through a combination of central government grants, council tax and business rates which in the past have remained stable sources of income through economic downturns.The Government conducts an ongoing assessment of the sustainability of the local government system. This is a dynamic assessment which reflects emerging analysis of pressures and risks and is kept under review.The Government is dedicated to supporting the adult social care system and as such has given councils access to up to £3.6 billion more dedicated funding for adult social care in 2018-19 and up to £3.9 billion for 2019-20. The additional resources will help councils commission care services that are sustainable, diverse and offer sufficient high-quality care and support for people in their areas.

NHS: Loans

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support NHS (a) Trusts and (b) Foundation Trusts with outstanding loans from his Department.

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the average interest rate applied to Department of Health loans to NHS (a) Trusts and (b) Foundation Trusts in (i) London and (ii) England.

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what interest rates are applied to loans given by the Department of Health to NHS (a) Trusts and (b) Foundation Trusts in Greater London.

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the average (a) repayment and (b) associated interest payments for Department of Health loans to NHS Trusts in (i) London, and (ii) England in each year since 2015.

Stephen Hammond: The Department provides loans to National Health Service trusts and foundation trusts for both capital investment and to support revenue expenditure. Interim revenue loans are provided to NHS providers to help protect the continuity of patient services and to ensure those organisations in financial deficit or distress have time and space to develop plans for return to a sustainable financial path. Interest rates on loans vary based on the purpose of the loan and provider’s circumstances. The same interest rates are applied to NHS trusts and foundation trusts irrespective of region. National Loan Fund rates are applied to normal course of business loans which includes capital investment. For those that are in receipt of interim financial support, the interest rates charged on loans are either 1.5%, 3.5% or 6%. The 6% rate is reserved for those trusts in Financial Special Measures (FSM). However, those that deliver three months of NHS Improvement benchmarked performance while in FSM are reduced to 3.5% on further loans. Interest earned on loans by the Department is not lost to the NHS - it is channelled back into the NHS through the annual funding allocation made through the NHS England Mandate. The total amount of loan repayments and interest paid in London and England in each year since 2015-16 are set out below: London Loan repaymentsinterest paid2017-18£66,731,745£25,218,2692016-17£190,921,276£19,100,0032015-16£275,996,532£8,497,917England Loan repaymentsinterest paid2017-18£204,785,254£90,458,8292016-17£641,465,713£63,883,2502015-16£816,627,333£32,722,964

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the merits of the Children’s Commissioner for England's recommendation in her November 2018 briefing for £1.7 billion of additional annual funding for child and adolescent mental health services.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Department has not made an assessment of this recommendation. The Government announced its long term financial settlement for the National Health Service in June. This will represent an increase of £20.5 billion in real terms by 2023/24. The Government has asked the NHS to develop a long-term plan which will set out a vision for the health service and ensure every penny is well spent. Government has been clear that better access to mental health services, to help achieve the government’s commitment to parity of esteem between mental and physical health, is one of the principles which must underpin the plan. The 2018 Budget set out some of aspects of what the long-term plan will contain, and further details will follow when the plan is published in due course.

Learning Disability: Health Services and Social Services

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the Government plans to launch the consultation on options for delivering mandatory learning disability training for all relevant NHS and social care staff.

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the consultation on options for delivering mandatory learning disability training for all relevant NHS and social care staff will be accessible to those with learning disabilities.

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that mandatory learning disability training for all relevant staff is delivered or partially delivered by those with learning disabilities.

Caroline Dinenage: We will launch a public consultation on mandatory learning disability and autism training for National Health Service and social care staff in the new year. Officials have been working with people with lived experience of learning disabilities and autism in developing the consultation proposals.We want to hear a range of views, including those from people with a learning disability or autism and their families, and in line with Cabinet Office principles on consultation, we will tailor the consultation to meet the needs and preferences of different groups, including the provision of consultation documents in alternative formats.The consultation will consider the role of people with a learning disability or autism in the development and deployment of training as they can bring a unique and valuable perspective as users of health and care services.

Orkambi

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on the acquisition of Orkambi for the NHS.

Steve Brine: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and NHS England are in dialogue with Vertex Pharmaceuticals around access to their portfolio of cystic fibrosis medicines. It is critical that Vertex now re-engages fully with the NICE appraisal process and gives serious consideration to the portfolio deal offer that NHS England made at the end of July. This deal would provide immediate access for patients to all Vertex licensed medicines and future pipeline products once licensed and in advance of the individual NICE appraisals concluding.

Air Ambulance Services

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that air ambulance trusts are adequately resourced.

Stephen Hammond: We recognise the vital role air ambulances play in getting those with life-threatening injuries and illnesses to the expert hospital care they need. The Autumn Budget announced £10 million of capital funding support to air ambulance charities, helping to maintain these critical services for patients in need.

Attorney General

Domestic Violence: Court Orders

Robert Halfon: To ask the Attorney General, whether he has had any discussions with the CPS on introducing tighter restrictions on the circumstances in which a restraining order may be varied to prevent the situation whereby a perpetrator of domestic abuse is granted a variation that permits them to work within a one mile radius from their victim.

Robert Buckland: The Attorney General and Solicitor General meet the director of Public Prosecutions regularly to discuss CPS priority areas which includes ensuring that the CPS continues to protect vulnerable victims of crime. However, the Law Officers do not intervene on individual cases; judges have discretion to make decisions based on the evidence before them.Section 12 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 enables courts to make restraining orders at the conclusion of a case. These are civil orders; however, breach of an order is a criminal offence. The Crown Prosecution Service takes domestic abuse seriously and in 2017 in England and Wales 19,216 restraining orders were issued on conviction and 1,932 were issued on acquittal. The Government sees the response to domestic abuse as a top priority and is committed to securing justice for all victims.

Dangerous Driving

Royston Smith: To ask the Attorney General, what proportion of (a) car and (b) HGV drivers involved in an accident with a motorcyclist were charged with careless driving in each year from 2014 to 2017.

Robert Buckland: Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 creates the offence of driving a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or other public place without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road or public place. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a central record of the number of defendants charged with, or prosecuted for these offences. This information could only be obtained by examining CPS case files, which would incur disproportionate cost.As Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 is a specified offence large numbers of careless driving offences are charged and prosecuted by the police with no involvement from the CPS. The CPS only become involved if the defendant pleads not guilty to the offence after which, CPS prosecutors take responsibility for reviewing the case and preparing the trial. Figures on the number of people prosecuted and the outcome of the prosecution of careless or inconsiderate driving offences may be obtained from the official statistics held by the Ministry of Justice.The CPS does however maintain records of the number of offences in which a CPS prosecution commenced, including offences of careless or inconsiderate driving. The table below shows the number of these offences during each year between 2014 and 2017.  2014201520162017Road Traffic Act 1988 { 3 }11,2309,7309,2388,350Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System It should be noted that the figures relate to the number of offences and not the number of individual defendants. It is may be the case that an individual defendant is charged with more than one offence.

Money Laundering: Convictions and Prosecutions

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Attorney General, how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions have been achieved by the (i) Serious Fraud Office and (ii) Crown Prosecution Service for high-end money laundering in each year since 2014.

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Attorney General, how many lawyers have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted by the (i) the Serious Fraud Office and (ii) Crown Prosecution Service for high-end money laundering in each year since 2014.

Robert Buckland: Sections 327, 328, 329 and 330 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 create provisions to deal with offences of money laundering. The Ministry of Justice publishes data on the number of prosecutions and convictions under POCA where money laundering is the principal offence. There is no legal definition or specific criminal offence of “high end” money laundering. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a central record of the number of defendants prosecuted for, and convicted of these offences. This information could only be obtained by examining CPS case files, which would incur disproportionate cost.CPS holds limited information on the number of offences which were charged and which reached a first hearing in the Magistrates Court. This does not equate to the number of defendants charged as single defendant may be charged with more than one offence. The figures for the period since 2014 are provided in the table below.  2015-20162016-20172017-2018Sections 327 to 330 - Proceeds of Crime Act 20024,5424,8664,813 The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has prosecuted four individuals for money laundering offences since 2014. Two of these prosecutions resulted in a successful conviction in 2018. One of the two individuals unsuccessfully prosecuted was legally qualified.

Department for Exiting the European Union

Brexit

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how much the Government has spent on preparing for the UK leaving the EU without a deal in each of the last 24 months for which figures are available.

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how much the Government has spent on preparing for the UK leaving the EU without a deal in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Treasury has provided £4.2bn for EU Exit preparations, including the unlikely event of a ‘no deal’ scenario, consisting of: £700m for 2017-18; £1.5bn for 2018-19 announced at Autumn Budget 2017 and allocated at Spring Statement 2018; £1.5bn for 2019-20 announced at Autumn Budget 2017; and an additional £500m for 2019-20 announced at Autumn Budget 2018.This funding represents a clear commitment from the Government to ensure departments and the Devolved Administrations continue to have the necessary money to prepare effectively for a range of exit scenarios, including the unlikely event of a no deal scenario.The Devolved Administrations are receiving their share of additional funding in devolved areas through the Barnett Formula. For 2018-19 this means the Devolved Administrations are receiving almost £75m.

National Security

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will (a) withdraw the Technical Note on External Security published on 24 May 2018 and (b) ensure that the UK Government does not give the EU control of UK national security assets after the UK leaves the EU.

Kwasi Kwarteng: The UK’s proposal for future security cooperation with the EU, as set out in the Technical Note on External Security, is aligned with the Government’s White Paper on the Future Relationship published on 12 July 2018, and reflected in the Political Declaration on the Framework for the Future Relationship.The future relationship on foreign policy, defence and development is based on a flexible relationship, which enables us to activate and intensify UK-EU cooperation during a crisis or on a shared priority, where it is in our mutual interest. The UK will make independent choices in foreign policy, defence and development, and our national security will remain the sole responsibility of the UK.

Court of Justice of the European Union

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the Draft agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, for what reason it was agreed that the Court of Justice of the European Union can continue to exercise jurisdiction over the United Kingdom from (a) after the UK withdrawal from the EU on 29 March 2019, (b) at the end of the transition period and (c) after the transition period.

Kwasi Kwarteng: The Prime Minister has been clear that the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) will end as we leave the EU.The Withdrawal Agreement ensures that the UK’s membership in the EU is wound down in an orderly way. It establishes a time-limited implementation period that provides a bridge to the future relationship, allowing businesses to continue trading as now until the end of 2020. As the implementation period is designed to ensure continuity and certainty for citizens and businesses, EU institutions, including the CJEU, will retain their current functions in respect of the UK. After the implementation period, UK courts will no longer be able to refer questions to the CJEU, other than for a time-limited period on the important matter of citizens rights and on very specific aspects of our exit from the EU budget. Disputes between the UK and the EU will not be resolved by the CJEU, but by a Joint Committee of the parties and an independent arbitration panel. The CJEU’s role will be strictly limited to the interpretation of EU law, consistent with the principle that the court of one party cannot determine disputes between the two.

Court of Justice of the European Union

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the Draft agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, for what reason the provisions in Article 174 granting the Court of Justice of the European Union the jurisdiction to provide an interpretation of Union Law and of the Agreement was included.

Kwasi Kwarteng: Under the Withdrawal Agreement, if there is a dispute which involves a question on the interpretation of EU law, the panel will not decide on that question, but request the CJEU to give a ruling on it. It will, however, still be for the arbitration panel to rule on the dispute itself.Under the EU Treaties, the CJEU is the only body which can deliver interpretations of EU law which bind the EU and its Member States. If the arbitration panel was empowered to interpret EU law and bind the EU and its Member States to this interpretation, it would be considered unlawful by the CJEU and prevent the EU from being able to sign up to such a provision.

Disability

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on people with disabilities.

Mr Robin Walker: During the passage of the EU (Withdrawal) Act 2018 in the Commons the Government committed to providing a statement about the impact of all EU exit bills on equalities legislation (which includes provisions on disability as a protected characteristic). The Government’s commitment requires the relevant Minister to make and publish a statement for each EU exit bill indicating:whether the bill amends, repeals or revokes any part of the Equality Acts 2006 or 2010 or any secondary legislation made under those Acts and, if it does make such changes, an explanation of the effect of each change; andthat in relation to the policy which is given effect by the Bill, the relevant Minister “has had due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Equality Act 2010.”that the Government will be making such a statement in respect of the WAB (which will be set out in the Explanatory Notes accompanying the Bill on its introduction); and this analysis has been carried out to inform decision-making on the Withdrawal Agreement and as preparation for the equality statement.The UK Government is committed to ensuring that there is no regression in equalities as we leave the EU. The Equality Act 2010 sets out wide-ranging equalities protections, and incorporates virtually all existing EU equalities law and Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) case law. In some areas, domestic legislation goes further than EU requirements - for example the public sector equality duty, which places a duty on public authorities to consider how their policies or decisions would affect people who are protected under the Equality Act. There are also domestic requirements that ensure non-discrimination in access to goods and services on grounds of disability.

Department for Education

Special Educational Needs: Gloucestershire

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate his Department has made of the number of education, health and care (EHC) plans produced by Gloucestershire County Council in each of the last three years; and on how many occasions that Council did (a) not proceed with an EHC Needs Assessment, (b) not produce an EHC plan when one had been requested and (c) receive an appeal against the support included in the plan in each of the last three years.

Nadhim Zahawi: The number of initial requests for assessment for an education, health and care (EHC) plan that were refused during the calendar year and the number of children and young people assessed during the calendar year for whom it was decided not to issue an EHC plan are shown in the table below for Gloucestershire local authority for the calendar years 2015 to 2017.Gloucestershire local authority, 2015 to 2017 calendar years.  Calendar Year 2015Calendar Year 2016Calendar Year 2017Number of children and young people for whom EHC plans were made for the first time240373514Number of initial requests for assessment for an EHC plan that were refused during the calendar year2500Number of children and young people assessed during the calendar year for whom it was decided not to issue an EHC plan102219Source: SEN2 data collectionThe information requested on the number of appeals against the support included in the plan in each of the last three years is not held centrally.

Special Educational Needs: Schools

Marsha De Cordova: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many new special schools have opened since the introduction of free schools in 2010.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Department for Education has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Schools: Northern Ireland

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has had with the Permanent Secretary in the Department of Education in Northern Ireland on the financial situation of schools in Northern Ireland.

Nick Gibb: Education is a devolved matter, and there have been no recent discussions between the Secretary of State for Education and the Permanent Secretary in the Department of Education in Northern Ireland on the financial situation of schools in Northern Ireland.

Schools: Finance

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to publish the allocation of funding for schools for the current academic year.

Nick Gibb: All pre-16 maintained school and academy allocations are published each financial year.The Department for Education intends to publish the 2018-2019 allocations shortly.

Schools: Fires

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2018 to Question 183891 on Schools: Insulation, how many school fires occurred in 2017-2018.

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2018 to Question 183891 on Schools: Insulation, how many school fires resulted in the relocation of pupils to separate premises in 2017-18.

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2018 to Question 183891 on Schools: Insulation, how many days of operation have been lost as a result of fires in schools in 2017-2018.

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2018 to Question 183891 on Schools: Insulation, what the cost has been to (a) central Government and (b) local authorities of fires in schools in 2017-18.

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2018 to Question 183891 on Schools: Insulation, whether the Government has measured the effect on children’s education of fires which have destroyed school buildings.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is not held centrally. The Department does not collect data on school fires. The Home Office publishes data relating to fires in buildings other than dwellings, which includes categories for educational establishments. The most recent published figures cover the 2010/11 to 2017/18 financial years inclusive and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fire-statistics-data-tables.The 2017/18 data shows that the incidence of fire across the school estate affecting the whole building, is low.Neither the Department, nor the Home Office, collect information on: how many school fires resulted in the relocation of pupils to separate premises in 2017-18; how many days of operation have been lost as a result of fires in schools in 2017-2018; what the cost has been to (a) central Government and (b) local authorities of fires in schools in 2017-18; or the effect on children’s education of fires which have destroyed school buildings fires in schools. Schools are, in general, very safe environments in relation to fire safety as they are typically occupied during the daytime and have multiple exit routes. In addition, all schools must comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, including having an up-to-date fire risk assessment and conducting regular fire drills. The Government attaches the highest priority to the safety of pupils and staff in schools. Following the Grenfell tragedy, the Department contacted all bodies responsible for safety in school buildings in England. They were instructed to carry out checks to identify any buildings with aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding so that they could be further investigated, and any risks were managed and dealt with promptly. This work focused on identifying buildings over 18 metres or with residential accommodation with ACM. The one school in scope has already carried out remediation work to remove and replace the cladding. The Department is working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to implement the ban on the use of combustible cladding on new residential buildings over 18 metres, including residential schools and student accommodation. More widely, we will continue to work across Government to take forward the findings from the Hackitt Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety.

Teaching Excellence Framework Independent Review: Public Appointments

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Written Statement of 19 November 2018, TEF reviewer appointment, HCWS 1089, what ability the independent reviewer will have to (a) receive written submissions and (b) commission open hearings.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Dame Shirley is keen to seek views on the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF) review from a wide range of people and groups. She intends to invite comments from the sector and the public on the TEF review and has set up a dedicated mailbox: TEF.IndependentReview@education.gov.uk. Dame Shirley also proposes to hold a series of events to seek views from stakeholders including providers, students, employers and others with an interest in standards of teaching in higher education.

Music: Education

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the amount of teaching time for music in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools.

Nick Gibb: Music is compulsory in the national curriculum for 5 to 14 year olds. At primary school level, data from the Omnibus Survey in 2017 reveals that the average amount of teaching time in primary schools was broadly similar to the amount of time spent teaching history and geography. At secondary schools, the data from the school workforce census in the table below shows that the proportion of time spent teaching music between 2010 and 2017 has remained broadly stable.  Proportion (%) of total teaching hours spent on music in years 7-13 in state-funded secondary schools 201020112012201320142015201620172.4%2.4%2.4%2.4%2.4%2.4%2.3%2.3%

Languages: Education

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the quality of language teaching in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: This Government recognises the importance of quality language teaching at primary and secondary school. Ofsted are responsible for inspecting maintained schools and academies, including language provision. The Department has made languages compulsory at Key Stage 2. Modern foreign languages (MFLs) are compulsory at Key Stage 3, giving pupils skills and knowledge and broadening their horizons. At Key Stage 4, languages are an essential part of the EBacc combination of core academic subjects. The proportion of pupils studying languages has risen from 40% in 2010 to 46% in 2018. Ofsted plans to conduct research into languages at secondary schools and is due to report on this in 2019-20. In 2016, Her Majesty’s former Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, reported that the majority of primary-age pupils in schools visited enjoyed having the chance to learn a foreign language. The report did however note concerns including a lack of allocated time to study languages. The Department is developing greater expertise in secondary school provision of languages, and will use this to encourage improvements in primary provision. Sir Michael’s comments can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/hmcis-monthly-commentary-may-2016. The Department is developing a number of initiatives to encourage improved languages provision in schools including an MFL Pedagogy Hub pilot programme, a Mandarin Excellence Programme, and a package of financial incentives to attract the best candidates into MFL teaching.

Schools: Playing Fields

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what his Department's definition is of wholly or mainly used when deciding whether a detached playing field is part of a school's premises or is a facility used by a school.

Nick Gibb: The Department’s understanding of the term ‘used wholly or mainly’, in the context of determining if land forms part of a school’s premises, is whether the school has exclusive or majority use or enjoyment of the land for greater than 50% of the time.

Students: Loans

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress the Government has made on its plans to extend maintenance loans to students taking part-time distance learning courses from the 2019-20 academic year.

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to publish the eligibility criteria for maintenance loans in relation to students taking part-time distance learning courses.

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of part-time students are in receipt of maintenance loans from the Student Loans Company in 2018-19.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Student Loans Company (SLC) publish statistics annually on student support payments by academic year: https://www.slc.co.uk/official-statistics/financial-support-awarded/england-higher-education.aspx. Early statistics for the academic year 2018/19 show that as at 31 October 2018, 1,500 English domiciled students had been paid a part-time maintenance loan. Information on the total number of part-time students in the academic year 2018/19 is not yet available. As stated in the government response to the recent consultation on part-time maintenance loans, we would like to extend these new loans to distance learning courses, but we must maintain confidence in the student finance system and ensure that adequate controls are in place to prevent the misuse of public funds. In light of this, ministers would only extend these loans to distance learners if robust controls are put in place to manage the risks associated with that mode of study. The department is currently considering those controls, and a final decision regarding whether it is feasible to extend maintenance loans to distance learners will be made once this scrutiny is completed.

Students: Higher Education

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of students in part-time undergraduate higher education in each year from 2018-19 to 2022-23.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The department does not forecast the number of students in part-time undergraduate higher education.

Opportunity North East

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his announcement of 8 October 2018 that the North East will receive £24 million in funding through Opportunity North East, whether that funding is additional funding or is planned to come from existing budgets.

Nadhim Zahawi: The £24 million investment announced for Opportunity North East is funded in two different ways. £12 million is allocated for the Early Careers Support Programme which is part of an existing, funded programme of work. The North East will benefit a year in advance of other regions from this early support for new teachers and will be a major part of the test and learn phase, ahead of the roll-out of the national programme. The wider investment of a further £12 million will be funded from within the department’s budgets, including underspends in 2018-19. This funding is included in the department’s business plans. The department has prioritised the £12 million for Opportunity North East whilst remaining within the department’s allocations from Her Majesty’s Treasury, which we will continue to do over the lifetime of the programme as part of our normal business planning process.

Department for Education: Public Expenditure

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the proportion of the budget of (a) executive agencies, (b) non-departmental public bodies and (c) organisations which receive funding from his Department that is spent on staffing costs.

Anne Milton: All information shown is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dfe-annual-reports.A full breakdown of staff costs and the proportion of total costs for the period of 2016 to 2017 and for 2017 to 2018 is shown in Table 1, which is attached. 



Table_of_staff_costs_for_194744
(Excel SpreadSheet, 55 KB)

Special Educational Needs

Thelma Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to support the delivery of Education and Health Care Plans for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Nadhim Zahawi: We have given £252 million to local authorities to support implementation of the new duties under the Children and Families Act (2014). We have also funded a consortium of partners, including the Council for Disabled Children, to work with health and social care services, including producing guidance on improving education, health and care (EHC) plans; and funded a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) leadership programme and legal training for all local authorities and their health partners to ensure they are clear on their statutory responsibilities. We have strengthened the National Health Service (NHS) Provider Contract for NHS Trusts to include a requirement to report on meeting the six-week deadline for health input into EHC plans; established a national network for Designated Medical Officers and Designated Clinical Officers, funded a local authority led regional network and developed resources to support joint self-assessment and peer review. We monitor implementation on the ground, for example, looking at the time it takes for local authorities to issue EHC plans. The Ofsted/Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections of SEND services we introduced in 2016 have also shone a light on strengths and weaknesses in the delivery of EHC plans and have proved a catalyst for local change. Where significant concerns have been identified, written statements of action (WSOA), setting out the actions the local area will take to improve services, are supporting local areas to improve their services. Ofsted and the CQC will re-visit each area with a WSOA to assess the progress they are making; and where sufficient progress is not being made, we will take appropriate action. 64.9% of new EHC plans (excluding exception cases) were issued within 20 weeks in 2017, up from 58.6% in 2016.

Alternative Education: Finance

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether providers of alternative education will benefit from the £400 million capital bonus for schools, announced in Budget 2018.

Nick Gibb: The Department is allocating an additional £400 million of capital funding to schools in 2018–19. This funding is in addition to the £1.4 billion of condition allocations already provided this year to those responsible for maintaining school buildings. This will ensure that the school estate is well maintained.As with Devolved Formula Capital, pupil referral units, alternative-provision academies, alternative-provision free schools, and general hospital schools will benefit from the funding, along with maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools, academies and free schools, special schools, non-maintained special schools and sixth-form colleges. It will also be allocated to those specialist post-16 institutions that have eligible state-funded pupils.In December, the Department plans to publish a ready reckoner, which is a self-service calculation tool that will allow schools to estimate their allocations. The final allocations are expected to be published in the new year.

Department of Education: Apprentices

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many apprentices are employed by (a) his Department, (b) each of his Department's executive agencies and (c) each of his Department's non-departmental public bodies.

Anne Milton: The department currently has 193 apprentices. This includes the department’s executive agencies, as they are employees of the department.The Institute for Apprenticeships has three current apprentices. The department does not hold the requested data for its other non-departmental public bodies

Children: Day Care

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the profitability of the PVI childcare sectors in each of the last three years.

Nadhim Zahawi: We plan to spend around £6 billion on childcare support in 2019 to 2020. That includes funding for our free early education entitlements on which we are spending £3.5 billion this year alone.We recognise the need to keep our evidence base on provider finances up-to-date. Research in the last three years which includes data on providers’ profitability includes:Our annual Childcare and Early Years Provider Surveys: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-childcare-and-early-years#childcare-and-early-years-providers-survey.The 30 hours free childcare early implementation evaluation which was published in 2017: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/30-hours-free-childcare-early-implementation-evaluation.The 30 hours free childcare early rollout evaluation which was published in 2017: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-rollout-of-30-hours-free-childcare-evaluation.The national evaluation of year one of 30 hours free childcare which was published in 2018: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/30-hours-free-childcare-final-evaluation-of-the-national-rollout.We continue to monitor the provider market closely with a range of regular and one-off research projects to provide us with insight into the provider market.

Social Services: Children

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which 20 local authorities will benefit from the £84 million in additional funding for children's social care services announced in Budget 2018.

Nadhim Zahawi: We are pleased to be investing £84 million to support up to 20 local authorities to improve their social work practice and decision-making.We will be working closely with the sector between now and April 2019 to determine how best to allocate funding; looking at those authorities who are struggling to meet challenges caused by rising pressures and who would benefit most from this support. Building on lessons learned from promising innovation programmes in Hertfordshire, Leeds and North Yorkshire, this support will enable target councils to work more effectively with vulnerable children and their families.

Degrees

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what his planned timeframe is for two-year degree courses to be rolled out in universities.

Mr Sam Gyimah: It is our intention to proceed with regulations to set the new accelerated degree fee caps as soon as possible, subject to parliamentary approval.Once approved, providers will be able to offer accelerated degree courses at values up to the higher annual fee cap. It will be for providers to decide whether, as a result of this change, they will expand existing accelerated course provision or offer accelerated degrees for the first time.

Ministry of Justice

Prisons: Synthetic Cannabinoids

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many incidents related to the drug Spice have been reported in prisons in South Yorkshire in the last two years.

Rory Stewart: Holding answer received on 19 November 2018



In 2016/17, there were 206 incidents where Spice was found in South Yorkshire prisons, and in 2017/18, there were 154 incidents. Data for finds of psychoactive substances in the months since March 2018 will be available on GOV.UK in July 2019, as part of the Annual HMPPS Digest. The number of drug finds reflects not only the number of attempts to convey illicit substances into our prisons but also our success in finding these drugs. Psychoactive substances are a game changer for prison safety, and this statistic reinforces the scale of the challenge. We are addressing this head on, and have invested £7 million in modern technology, including phone blocking technology and improved searching techniques. We have made it a criminal offence to possess psychoactive substances in prison and trained more than 300 sniffer dogs specifically to detect these drugs. We are also adopting pioneering approaches such as our ‘Drug Recovery Prison’ pilot at HMP Holme House, which is leading the way in tackling the supply of drugs and putting offenders on a long-term path to recovery.

Ministry of Justice: Public Expenditure

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the real terms change in his Departmental Resource Budgets (a) was in each year since 2010 and (b) is projected to be in each year to 2022.

Rory Stewart: The table below shows the annual change in the Ministry of Justice’s available total resource funding from HM Treasury, including depreciation, and Income in real terms to 2019/20. Budgets for the years 2020/21 and 2021/22 will be set in the next Spending Review. The figures below represent actual funding received for 2010/11 – 2017/18, and forecast figures for 2018/19 – 2019/20.  2010/ 112011/ 122012/ 132013/ 142014/ 152015/ 162016/ 172017/ 182018/ 1922019/ 202   Total Resource DEL Funding110.210.310.09.69.39.19.39.58.78.6Funding (restated in 2018/19 prices)11.611.511.010.49.99.69.69.78.78.5   Annual real terms increase/(decrease)-1%-5%-6%-4%-3%0%1%-10%-2%Cumulative real terms decrease-1%-5%-11%-14%-17%-17%-17%-25%-27%1 Includes funding from HM Treasury (both fiscal and non-fiscal) and Income (inc. fees, fines and income from OGDs). Excludes capital spend.2 Based on the SR15 Settlement, with revisions as agreed at AS16. The Ministry continues to engage with HM Treasury on the department’s funding requirements ahead of the Spending Review in 2019.

Prison Officers: Mental Health

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to support the mental wellbeing of prison officers.

Rory Stewart: HMPPS recognises the importance of staff wellbeing and offers a range of support that includes access to specialist Mental Health Advisers provided by our Occupational Health supplier. HMPPS offers further staff support through its Employee Assistance Programme which includes a 24hr/365 days per year confidential helpline and access to mental health support by way of confidential counselling together with a, Structured Professional Support service which has been developed to provide individual or group sessions facilitated by Mental Health Advisers or Therapists. The aim of the sessions are to help to reduce the likelihood that staff will experience adverse effects as a result of working on programmes with offenders or on high risk cases.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service: Staff

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of civilian enforcement officers who have been employed by HM Courts and Tribunals Service in each quarter of the last five years.

Lucy Frazer: The number of civilian enforcement officers that were employed by HM Courts and Tribunals Service in each quarter for the last five financial years are listed below. Data prior to 2014-15 Q2 was recorded on an annual and not on a quarterly basis. HeadcountFTE (Full time Equivalent)2014-15 Q1 endN/AN/A2014-15 Q2 end233222.62014-15 Q3 end223212.222014-15 Q4 end215201.332015-16 Q1 end207193.612015-16 Q2 end204193.22015-16 Q3 end195185.72015-16 Q4 end186176.42016-17 Q1 end181171.282016-17 Q2 end172160.622016-17 Q3 end166154.12016-17 Q4 end157145.32017-18 Q1 end148137.262017-18 Q2 end138128.682017-18 Q3 end135126.072017-18 Q4 end130120.342018-19 Q1 end125116.042018-19 Q2 end117108.71

Department for International Trade

Arms Trade: Saudi Arabia

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if the Government will cease supplying arms to Saudi Arabia following the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.

Graham Stuart: Holding answer received on 26 November 2018



The situation in Saudi Arabia is kept under careful review and licensing decisions are made on a case by case basis. Export licence applications are carefully assessed against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. A licence would not be granted if to do so was inconsistent with the Criteria. The policy remains as announced to parliament in a Written Ministerial Statement on 25 March 2014: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm140325/wmstext/140325m0001.htm#14032566000018 and updated with an additional policy, as announced in a Written Ministerial Statement on 13 September 2018: https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-09-13/HCWS957/.

Arms Trade: Saudi Arabia

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will publish the risk assessments made by his Department on the granting of export licences for arms sales to Saudi Arabia since 25 May 2010.

Graham Stuart: Holding answer received on 26 November 2018



The Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework for considering all applications to export military goods to Saudi Arabia. The policy remains as announced to Parliament in a Written Ministerial Statement on 25 March 2014: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm140325/wmstext/140325m0001.htm#14032566000018 and updated with an additional policy, as announced in a Written Ministerial Statement on 13 September 2018: https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-09-13/HCWS957/.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Non-domestic Rates: Northern Ireland

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with local councils in Northern Ireland on business rates.

Rishi Sunak: Business rates are a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and should be a matter for a future Executive. In the absence of an Executive, the Northern Ireland Office and the Secretary of State for Northen Ireland work closely with the Northern Ireland Civil Service on a range of issues, including finance related matters such as the setting of regional rates.

Regulator of Social Housing: Public Appointments

Emma Dent Coad: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to his Answers of 27 June 2018 to Questions 155404 and 155405, when he will begin recruitment to the post of permanent Chair of the Board of the Regulator of Social Housing; and when he plans to place copies of the revised job description and person specification in the Library.

Kit Malthouse: Recruitment for a permanent Chair of the Regulator of Social Housing will begin in the New Year. The job description and person specification will be publicly available once the recruitment launches.

High Rise Flats: Insulation

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2018 to Question 183892 on High Rise Flats: Insulation, how many student accommodation blocks over 18 metres with non-ACM combustible cladding have been identified.

Kit Malthouse: The Government’s Building Safety Programme is tracking the identification and remediation of residential buildings over 18 metres with Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding systems. We are currently not collecting data on student accommodation with non-ACM cladding systems. We keep under continuous review safety matters on high rise residential buildings with our expert panel offering advice and guidance.

Affordable Housing

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 November to Question 191291 on Affordable Housing, what the agreed delivery profiles are.

James Brokenshire: We do not publish delivery profiles for the Affordable Homes Programme. We are committed to building at least 250,000 additional affordable homes by March 2022, including at least 12,500 homes for social rent in areas of high affordability pressure outside of London. This figure includes at least 116,000 affordable homes which the Mayor will deliver in London by March 2022.

Almshouses

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of almshouses charities are registered providers of housing.

Kit Malthouse: The Department and the Regulator of Social Housing do not hold this information. The Regulator does not record whether or not a private registered provider of social housing is an almshouse.

Housing: North of England

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has read the report, The hidden costs of poor quality housing in the North, published in October 2018 by the Northern Consortium; and if he will make a statement.

Kit Malthouse: My officials have noted the contents of the Report. The Report recognises that the Decent Homes Standard has made a real difference to the lives of tenants by driving improvements to standards in social housing. Since 2010, the proportion of social homes failing to meet the Decent Homes Standard is down 7 percentage points and the proportion of private rented homes is down 10 percentage points.Most landlords provide decent, high quality accommodation, but a minority of them are not keeping their properties in a safe condition. We have strengthened local authorities’ enforcement powers, introduced civil penalties, extended rent repayment orders, introduced banning orders and extended licensing of higher-risk houses in multiple occupation. These measures will go a long way to crack down on landlords who neglect their properties, and rogue landlords will have to improve their properties or leave the business.The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) is being reviewed to assess how well it works in practice and whether it needs to be updated. The Government is also supporting the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Bill which will require landlords to ensure that their properties are free from potentially serious hazards at the start of and throughout a tenancy.

Ministry of Defence

University Royal Naval Units: Aberdeen

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the decision was taken to close the University Royal Navy Unit attached to Aberdeen University.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: It is not possible to determine the exact date of the decision to close Aberdeen University Royal Navy Unit in 2012.

Navy: Aberdeen University

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Royal Navy (a) officers and (b) sailors recruited in each year between 2008 and 2018 are or were (i) graduates and (ii) undergraduates of the University of Aberdeen.

Mark Lancaster: Identifying higher educational establishments is not mandatory on the application form to join the Royal Navy. The numbers of Royal Navy entrants who have identified the University of Aberdeen as one of their educational establishments on their records are:  2007-082008-092009-102010-112011-122012-13Regular RN/RM Officer~~5-~5Regular RN/RM Other Ranks--~---Reserve RN/RM Officer--~--~Reserve RN/RM Other Ranks-10~~~~Total~1010~55  2013-142014-152015-162016-172017-18Regular RN/RM Officer-555~Regular RN/RM Other Ranks~5~5~Reserve RN/RM Officer~---~Reserve RN/RM Other Ranks~~~--Total5101055 Recruiting years are the same as Financial Years.Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5. Figures of 2 and below are represented by '~', 0 is represented by '-'Figures include all personnel applying where the University of Aberdeen recorded as one of their educational establishments on their records, but does not mean they were part of the Aberdeen URNU unit.

Navy: Recruitment

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many applications there were to join the Royal Navy in each year between 2008 and 2018; and how many of those applications in each of those years were successful.

Mark Lancaster: Applications data were not published as Official Statistics prior to 2014. However, the number of applicants and entrants to the Naval Service, from 2014 onwards, is published in the quarterly Service Personnel Statistics, which can be found at:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/756686/1Oct_2018-_SPS.xlsxTable 9a shows the number of applications and tables 5a and 7b show the intake to the Regulars and Reserves.

University Royal Naval Units: Recruitment

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how the size of an area’s catchment group for University Royal Navy Unit recruitment is calculated.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The catchment area for University Royal Navy Units recruitment covers full time students at Higher Education Institutes that are members of the local Military Education Committee, within one hour travelling time.

University Officer Training Corps: Aberdeen

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans there are to relocate the Aberdeen University Officer Training Corps.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: There are no current plans to relocate the Aberdeen University Officer Training Corps.

University Royal Naval Units: Aberdeen

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the annual cost of running the University Royal Naval Unit in Aberdeen was in each year between 2008 and 2012.

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the annual cost of running the University Royal Naval Unit in Edinburgh was in each year between 2012 and 2018.

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the annual cost of running the University Royal Naval Unit in Glasgow was in each year between 2008 and 2018.

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the annual cost of running the University Royal Naval Unit in Liverpool was in each year between 2008 and 2018.

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the annual cost of running the University Royal Naval Unit in Southampton was in each year between 2008 and 2018.

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the annual cost of running the University Royal Naval Unit in Birmingham was in each year between 2008 and 2018.

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the annual cost of running the University Royal Naval Unit in London was in each year between 2008 and 2018.

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the annual cost of running the University Royal Naval Unit in Bristol was in each year between 2008 and 2018.

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the annual cost of running the University Royal Naval Unit in Manchester was in each year between 2008 and 2018.

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the annual cost of running the University Royal Naval Unit in Sussex was in each year between 2008 and 2018.

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the annual cost of running the University Royal Naval Unit in Cambridge was in each year between 2008 and 2018.

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the annual cost of running the University Royal Naval Unit in Northumbria was in each year between 2008 and 2018.

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the annual cost of running the University Royal Naval Unit in Devon was in each year between 2008 and 2018.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Due to a change in Navy finance procedures the annual costs for each University Royal Navy Unit (URNU) are only held centrally for the period 2008 – 2014. The information for the years after 2014 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The costs for Devon URNU, established in 2017, are therefore not available. The information held is as follows: URNU2007-08 £2008-09 £2009-10 £2010-11 £2011-12 £2012-13 £2013-14 £Sussex216,600231,300213,000211,100188,500190,900208,900Aberdeen194,300220,600222,800202,300242,800Edinburgh 192,000180,300Glasgow182,100166,600187,400187,700176,600161,500192,700Liverpool178,300244,200221,200194,300183,700184,300210,500Southampton228,500211,500211,900203,600176,800149,300195,500London199,400173,500205,100194,600182,800200,200171,800Manchester266,200249,100303,300211,500187,300218,500232,300Bristol211,500253,700237,900256,200235,700128,300215,100Northumbrian211,300187,700203,500213,400211,100214,600197,500Birmingham195,200230,000231,500203,900187,000212,200229,700Cambridge248,600213,700200,000190,400218,700247,600199,100 The figures have been rounded to the nearest £100.

University Royal Naval Units: Aberdeen

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the membership of the University Royal Naval Unit in Aberdeen was in each year between 2008 and 2012.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The records for the membership of University Royal Naval Unit in Aberdeen between 2008 and 2012 have not been retained.

University Royal Naval Units: Edinburgh

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the membership of the University Royal Naval Unit in Edinburgh was in each year between 2012 and 2018.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: From the available information held locally, membership of the University Royal Naval Unit in Edinburgh between 2016 to 2018 is shown below. University Royal Naval Unit EdinburghAcademic YearMembers2016-17502017-1850

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support UK troops in Afghanistan are providing for the protection of civilian Hazaras.

Mark Lancaster: The UK continues to monitor the number of civilian casualties and displaced persons as a result of the recent violence in Ghazni and Uruzgan. The Afghan Security Forces have been in the lead for the security of the Afghan people since 2015 and owing to the Afghan Security Forces response, the situation in these two provinces is stabilising. The UK is committed to supporting the Afghan Security Forces to ensure their capability continues to improve in order to successfully protect all ethnic and religious groups in Afghanistan.

Syria: Military Intervention

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the rules of engagement are for coalition forces operating inside Syria on military advances against such forces by the Assad regime.

Mark Lancaster: It is long-standing policy not to reveal UK Rules of Engagement. To do so would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Armed Conflict: Civilians

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to (a) ensure that in the cross-Government approach to the strategy Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict that civilians are protected from and (b) consider any multilateral policy responses to the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.

Mark Lancaster: The principles set out in the Protection of Civilians Strategy continue to guide cross-Government work to prevent, manage and resolve conflicts around the world. The UK also remains closely engaged with multilateral discussions on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and other international fora.

University Royal Naval Units: Glasgow

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the membership of the University Royal Naval Unit in Glasgow in each year from 2008-2018.

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the membership of the University Royal Naval Unit in Liverpool in each year from 2008-2018.

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the membership of the University Royal Naval Unit in Southampton in each year from 2008-2018.

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the membership of the University Royal Naval Unit in Birmingham in each year from 2008-2018.

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the membership of the University Royal Naval Unit in London in each year from 2008-2018.

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the membership of the University Royal Naval Unit in Bristol in each year from 2008-2018.

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the membership of the University Royal Naval Unit in Manchester in each year from 2008-2018.

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the membership of the University Royal Naval Unit in Sussex in each year from 2008-2018.

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the membership of the University Royal Naval Unit in Cambridge in each year from 2008-2018.

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the membership of the University Royal Naval Unit in Northumbria in each year from 2008-2018.

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the membership of the University Royal Naval Unit in Oxford in each year from 2008-2018.

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the membership of the University Royal Naval Unit in Wales in each year from 2008-2018.

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the membership of the University Royal Naval Unit in Yorkshire in each year from 2008-2018.

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the membership of the University Royal Naval Unit in Devon in each year from 2008-2018.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: From the available data, the strength of the University Royal Navy Units as at April 2013 – 2018 is as follows: Unit201320142015201620172018Glasgow406060605050Liverpool505060605060Southampton606060608070Birmingham505070607060London605060606050Bristol606070706060Manchester605060805060Sussex505050606060Cambridge505060504030Northumbria405050609050Oxford605050506050Wales605060606060Yorkshire505060608060DevonN/AN/AN/AN/A2040Source: Defence Statistics (Navy) 1. The sum of the units will not match the total strength of the University Royal Naval Units as published in Table 8b of the Service Personnel Statistics (SPS), 1 October 2018. Figures in the SPS also include Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme personnel, however they are not included in the above table as they have separate units.2. Figures are not available prior to 1 April 2013.3. N/A occurs as the Devon Unit was launched in 2017.4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10, figures ending in '5' are rounded to the nearest 20 to avoid bias.

Annington Homes: Empty Property

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of empty Annington Property Limited dwellings.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Ministry of Defence has a programme in place to reduce the number of vacant Annington Homes properties. This is being achieved through a combination of sub-letting to the general public, and by returning surplus properties for which there is no long-term Defence requirement.

Annington Homes: Standards

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to improve the standard of accommodation in Annington Property Limited properties.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Ministry of Defence continues to invest in the improvement of the condition and quality of Service Family Accommodation (SFA). In this financial year, the Department will spend around £80 million on lifecycle replacement and improvement works for SFA, the majority of which are leased from Annington Property Limited.

Veterans

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Written Statement of 14 November 2018 on Strategy for our Veterans HCWS1080 and the Answer of 21 November 2018 to Question 191892, when he plans to take a decision on the resource required to implement the Strategy for our Veterans.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Strategy for our Veterans and the complementary UK Government Consultation Paper were published on 14 November and debated in both Houses on 15 November. The Consultation Paper seeks public views to inform how the Government will implement the strategy. The Scottish and Welsh Governments have made separate consultation arrangements for areas that are devolved. Following conclusion of these consultations, implementation plans will be developed by each relevant service provider, along with individual costings which will fall across Government. Once implementation options have been agreed, the resource required to implement the Strategy for our Veterans will be agreed between Ministerial Covenant and Veterans Board members, which includes the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

Appledore Shipyard

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 2 November 2018 to Question 185470 on Appledore Shipyard, if he will provide details of the package of work at Devonport shipyard that his Department discussed with Babcock, under each heading.

Stuart Andrew: The £60 million package that the Ministry of Defence discussed with Babcock was for Devonport-based refit work that could potentially provide further employment for Appledore workers. Unfortunately, in the absence of confirmed longer-term ship-build or similar opportunities of a scale that matches Appledore's size, this was not enough to secure the future of the shipyard.

Ukraine: Armed Forces

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many deployments of British personnel from the (a) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Marines, (c) Army and (d) Royal Air Force have there been to Ukraine in each year since January 2015.

Mark Lancaster: The number of UK Defence personnel deployed on Operation ORBITAL for each financial year is as follows: Financial Year2015-162016-172017-182018-19Number of deployments712610317279**number of deployments to date in 18-19 These figures include individuals deploying on multiple occasions. The majority of UK Defence personnel that deploy on Operation ORBITAL are Army personnel. Figures broken down by the single Services are not representative of the total number of Operation ORBITAL deployments because each individual deployed is recorded only once per financial year, however they may have been deployed multiple times during that period. At any one time, Operation ORBITAL headquarters has consisted of 12-14 personnel throughout this period. Alongside our operational training assistance, the UK also deploys UK personnel from the British Military Advisory Training Team to Ukraine, as well as defence reform advisors on an ad hoc basis. BMATT personnel deployed to Ukraine for each financial year is as follows:  Financial Year2015-162016-172017-182018-19Deployed Personnel510030 These figures, broken down by single Service, are not currently available.

Afghanistan: Ethnic Groups

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what contribution the UK mission to Afghanistan is making to the protection of Hazara civilians.

Mark Lancaster: The UK continues to monitor the number of civilian casualties and displaced persons as a result of the recent violence in Ghazni and Uruzgan. The Afghan Security Forces have been in the lead for the security of the Afghan people since 2015 and owing to the Afghan Security Forces response, the situation in these two provinces is stabilising. The UK is committed to supporting the Afghan Security Forces to ensure their capability continues to improve in order to successfully protect all ethnic and religious groups in Afghanistan.

Defence Equipment: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 22 November 2018 to Question 192107, what assessment he has made of the merits of transferring delegation of fiscal responsibility for portfolios of projects in the Equipment Plan from top level budgets holders in (a) Royal Navy, (b) Army, (c) Royal Air Force and (d) Joint Forces Command to his Department's cost assurance and analysis service.

Stuart Andrew: Top Level Budget (TLB) holders are responsible to the Accounting Officer for delivering their plans within financial limits. As part of our work under the Modernising Defence Programme, we are creating a stronger and more strategic Head Office to provide clear, strategic central direction with delegation of military capability budgets and decision-making responsibility to the Services in the four Front Line Commands. The Cost Assurance and Analysis Service will continue to provide independent cost management services for the Ministry of Defence.

Air Force: Deployment

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times quick reaction alert aircraft were launched to intercept aircraft in each of the last five years; and from which nations the intercepted aircraft originated.

Mark Lancaster: The number of days on which Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Typhoon aircraft launched each year since 2014 is given below. Not every launch resulted in an interception as some incidents were resolved prior to interception.  YearNo. of days QRA was launched201420201512201612201762018*8* 1 January to 22 November 2018  I am withholding further details as deterrence is a principal function of QRA and QRA is in turn an integral part of the air defence of the UK. The disclosure of information that might compromise the QRA deterrent capability would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Department for Work and Pensions

Unemployed People: Social Security Benefits

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate she has made of the number and proportion of unemployed people who are entitled to claim (a) jobseeker's allowance and (b) universal credit but are not doing so.

Alok Sharma: At this point in the Universal Credit (UC) rollout schedule, we are not able to distinguish between Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and UC claims at entitlement level within the Family Resources Survey data (available on gov.uk) for the purposes of estimating take-up statistics. Therefore the JSA data are not of a suitable quality to be published. We are also unable to estimate UC take-up rates at present. In total, there are 700,000 households not claiming their full entitlement under the legacy system, that we expect will claim Universal Credit because it is a more accurate system.

Social Security Benefits

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of new claims for (a) jobseeker's allowance and (b) employment and support allowance were processed within (i) five days and (ii) 10 days or longer within the most recent 12 months for which data are available.

Alok Sharma: The information requested is shown in the table below:  Claims processed in 5 working days%of claims processed in 5 working daysClaims processed in 10 working days%of claims processed in 10 working daysClaims processed in 21 working days%of claims processed in 21 working daysTotal claims processedJobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)165,57023.53%578,17082.17%689,60098.00%703,660Employment & Support Allowance (ESA)248,54055.36%358,83079.93%415,59092.57%448,930 Notes:  The period the data covers is from 1 November 2017 to 31 October 2018. All volumes are rounded to the nearest 10. For context figures for the total claims cleared have also been provided. The claims cleared within 10 and 21 days figures are cumulative and as such includes the claims cleared within 5 or 10 days respectively. Claim processing times may be affected by the verification issues (such as wage slips). ESA and JSA claimants are paid in arrears, usually on a fortnightly basis. The data provided relates to the initial ESA assessment phase prior to the Work Capability Assessment. This data is from the Management Information System Programme (MISP), a Departmentalperformance management, data capture and reporting tool. This type of internal management information does not form part of the official statistics outputs that are released by the Department inaccordance with the UK Statistics Authority’s Code of Practice.

Universal Credit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many universal credit claimants each month are having more than 40 per cent of their monthly award deducted to repay debt.

Alok Sharma: Deductions may include a number of items that are debt repayments, but may also include other items such as payments to utility companies for current bills, or court fines. These are not debts. Disaggregating categories that represent debt, from those that do not, would incur a disproportionate cost. In August 2018, 0.6% of Universal Credit claimants had a deduction that exceeded the normal 40% maximum deduction rate (this does not include sanctions or fraud penalties which are reductions of benefit rather than deductions). In these cases, a priority order is applied so that deductions for arrears of housing costs or fuel costs are applied first, in order to to protect claimant welfare.

Social Security Benefits: Telephone Services

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many calls have been made to each of her Department's benefit telephone lines in each of the last 18 months for which data are available.

Justin Tomlinson: Information about the total calls offered to the Department’s benefit telephone lines for the 18 month period May 2017 to October 2018 for which data is available has been published in the House of Commons Library. The total number of calls across the Department have remained at a consistent level since May 2017. During this period we have rolled out Universal Credit, the Universal Credit caseload has risen to over 1.3 million, and we have been receiving calls from Universal Credit claimants that would previously have gone to HMRC or Local Authorities. The requested information is in the attached document. 



Telephony
(Word Document, 16.37 KB)

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the number of personal independence payment applications that go to appeal.

Sarah Newton: Since PIP was introduced 3.5m decisions have been made, of these 9% have been appealed and 4% have been overturned. The Department endeavors to get decisions right first time. The main reason why decisions are changed at tribunal is a combination of the claimant’s oral evidence, the tribunal reaching a different conclusion on the same evidence and new written evidence not available to the original decision makers. We continue to monitor and improve our decision making processes. This includes the deployment of 150 Presenting Officers to represent the Department at tribunal hearings and provide valuable feedback to both Decision Makers and Health Care Professionals.

Universal Credit

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons MPs offices have implicit consent arrangements for universal credit applications and advice services require explicit consent to support claimants.

Alok Sharma: On 13 March 2017 Written Statement - HCWS528 outlined the implicit consent arrangements for MPs.Where explicit consent is needed it can be quickly given in different ways. For example, claimants only need to put a note in their journal to give consent; this is a far simpler and more straightforward process than in legacy systems. Once consent is given, advisers will work with the claimant’s representatives.In our response to the Social Security Advisory Committee we agreed to explore options for improving the process of explicit consent in relation to Universal Credit in collaboration with the Committee to consider how current practices could be enhanced and to publish a report on our joint conclusions.

Universal Credit: Self-employed

Emma Dent Coad: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many recipients of universal credit are self-employed.

Alok Sharma: We plan to publish statistics on Universal Credit and self-employment, including claimant numbers, in the future. This data is currently going through quality assurance clearance procedures in line with the National Statistics and Official Statistics publication standard.

Independent Case Examiner: Finance

Emma Dent Coad: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2018 to Question 176686 on Independent Case Examiner, how much additional funding the Independent Case Examiner received in 2017-18 to reduce the waiting time for a decision.

Justin Tomlinson: The Independent Case Examiner’s Office received no additional funding in the 2017-18 reporting year however, the Office has received funding for additional staff in the current reporting year.

Independent Case Examiner

Emma Dent Coad: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether complaints to the Independent Case Examiner that have been considered under the early resolution process can be referred directly to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

Justin Tomlinson: The Independent Case Examiner’s Office routinely considers whether the complaints it accepts for examination can be resolved, to the complainant’s satisfaction, without the need for a full examination of the case. The resolution process will only succeed if the complainant is satisfied that their complaint has been addressed. Decisions on whether to refer a complaint to the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s Office, regardless of the stage at which it was concluded by the Independent Case Examiner’s Office, rest with individual Members of Parliament.

Universal Credit: Housing

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of claimants receiving the housing element of universal credit are women.

Justin Tomlinson: We can provide an estimate based on households claiming Universal Credit by matching the Universal Credit household dataset (which contains information about the Housing Element), with the people on Universal Credit dataset (which contains information about gender). The table gives the estimated number of claimants receiving the Housing Element of Universal Credit in Great Britain, August 2018. The notes should be read in conjunction with the information provided in the table.  Estimated number of households in payment and receiving the Housing Element of Universal Credit, Great Britain, August 2018Total530,000Occupied by women (single or in a couple)365,000Occupied by men (single or in a couple)248,000Unknown- Source: Universal Credit household dataset and people on Universal Credit dataset  Notes:The figures are derived from unpublished information and have not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard.Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand. Individual figures may not add up to the total due to rounding.A count date of the second Thursday of the month is used when calculating the statistics for the people and households on Universal Credit.Further information on the background and methodology can be accessed here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/739399/universal-credit-statistics-background-methodology.pdf

Universal Credit: Housing

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of claimants receiving the housing element of universal credit are also claiming the state pension.

Justin Tomlinson: The table gives the estimated number of households receiving the Housing Element of Universal Credit in Great Britain, May 2018. The notes should be read in conjunction with the information provided in the table. Estimated number of households in payment and receiving the Housing Element of Universal Credit in Great Britain, May 2018Total471,800Claiming State Pension200 Source: Household on Universal Credit dataset and Work and Pensions Longitudinal Survey. Notes:The figures are derived from unpublished information and have not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard.Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred. Individual figures may not add up to the total due to rounding.A count date of the second Thursday of the month is used when calculating the statistics for households on Universal Credit.Further information on the background and methodology for Universal Credit can be accessed here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/739399/universal-credit-statistics-background-methodology.pdf

Universal Credit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many universal credit cases have been closed in error in the most recent 12 months for which data are available; and what the time taken was for each of those cases to be rebuilt.

Alok Sharma: The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Information about cases deleted in error is provided in my answer on 19 November to Question 190789 .

Employment: Autism

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effect on the autism employment gap of the Access to Work scheme.

Sarah Newton: We have made no assessment of the effect of Access to Work on the employment rate of people with autism. Data on people with Autism Spectrum Disorders is not routinely disaggregated within Access to Work statistics. The primary medical condition categories used in Access to Work are consistent with the categories used in the Labour Force Survey. This is so we can compare our data to the disability employment rate. When a person with autism applies to Access to Work for support, it will be for particular conditions, such as difficulty in speaking, learning difficulties, etc., rather than ‘autism’. This will be recorded as the individual’s primary medical condition in the Access to Work database, even if it’s linked to their autism Access to Work has a specialist Hidden Impairments team who receive upskilling and awareness from organisations who have expertise of autism to ensure that advisors have a broad understanding of the barriers individuals with autism face. The official statistics published on 30th October 2018 provide the latest information on the Access to Work scheme, including breakdowns by customer characteristics such as primary medical condition. They may be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/access-to-work-statistics-april-2007-to-march-2018

Employment: Autism

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment has she made of the effect on the autism employment gap of the Disability Confident Autism and Neurodiversity Toolkit.

Sarah Newton: We have not made any assessment of the effect the Disability Confident Autism and Neurodiversity Toolkit has had on the autism employment gap. The toolkit was developed with support from disabled people with neuro-diverse conditions, medical professionals and disability organisations such as Autism Alliance UK and Autism Plus. It is designed to help to raise awareness and understanding, within DWP and across the wider Civil Service, about Autism Spectrum Disorders and neuro-diverse conditions. Disability Confident promotes the many benefits of employing disabled people including individuals with autism and neuro-diverse conditions. The scheme provides free information, advice and guidance for employers.

Department for Work and Pensions: Training

Ruth George: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of her Department's frontline staff have received training relating to domestic abuse.

Justin Tomlinson: Our Jobcentre staff undergo a comprehensive learning journey designed to equip them with the tools, skills and behaviours required to provide a high quality service to all claimants. Specific training and guidance is provided for all staff on working with different vulnerable groups, including survivors and those still experiencing domestic abuse. Jobcentre staff will signpost claimants to national and local organisations that provide specialist support and Work Coaches can apply domestic violence easements, switching off all work-related requirements for a period of time. In addition a national call was held earlier this year to raise awareness and understanding of domestic abuse across the Jobcentre network and a video has been produced to highlight good practice when supporting individuals who have been or are currently in a domestic abuse relationship.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure employment support allowance and personal independence payment assessors are (a) informed of and (b) abide by mandates instructing communications via an agreed advocate rather than directly with the client.

Sarah Newton: Where Employment Support Allowance or Personal Independence Payment claimants have an approved appointee, this will be flagged in the initial referral to the Assessment Provider. If a face-to-face assessment is deemed necessary, the Assessment Provider will send the invite to the appointee only. In regards to any other ‘advocate’ ie: not an approved benefit appointee, as long as the claimant has made this request clear when claiming PIP or ESA, either by providing a correspondence address, the advocate’s personal details or on their Questionnaire – the PIP2 or the ESA50, then this will be acted upon. Department works with providers to ensure guidance is understood and applied in line with policy intent.

Employment Schemes: Young People

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many young people participated in the Youth Obligation programme since April 2017.

Alok Sharma: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to question 184843 on 29th October.

Access to Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that recommendations to employers made by the Access to Work scheme are acted upon in a timely manner.

Sarah Newton: Access to Work advisers engage with employers from the receipt of an application for support and, if necessary, work with employers to obtain their buy in, ensuring they fully understand the benefits of the requested support and facilitate timely implementation. The Disability Confident scheme is also building employers’ awareness of how best to support their disabled employees and their capability to do this in the most effective ways. This includes ensuring that any necessary support and adaptations are put in place when they are required.

Social Security Benefits: Children

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish an update to the Child Tax Credit and Universal Credit claimants: statistics related to the policy to provide support for a maximum of two children published in April 2018.

Alok Sharma: We have committed to monitoring the impact of this policy over time. On 28 June 2018, we published the first annual statistics related to the operation of this policy. We intend to continue to publish these statistics annually going forward.

Carer's Allowance: Overpayments

Ruth George: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases of overpayment of Carers Allowance have been taken to court in each of the last five years.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Carer's Allowance: Overpayments

Ruth George: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases of overpayment of carers allowance have been taken to court under the Proceeds of Crime Act for each of the last five years.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Carer's Allowance: Overpayments

Ruth George: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases of overpayment of carers allowance are currently listed before the courts.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Carer's Allowance: Overpayments

Ruth George: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases of overpayment of Carers Allowance her Department is pursuing; and of those cases how many relate to (a) 51 or fewer, (b) 52 to 103, (c) 104 to 155, (d) 156 to 207, (e) 208 to 259, (f) 260 to 311, (g) 312 to 363 and (h) 364 or more weeks of overpayment.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Access to Work Programme: Musculoskeletal Disorders

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to promote the Access to Work scheme to people with musculoskeletal conditions.

Sarah Newton: Access to Work continues to undertake targeted awareness of the scheme to the most under-represented groups, including people with musculoskeletal conditions. As part of the ongoing Access to Work campaign, we are targeting employers, health professionals and claimants. We have worked with Arthritis Research UK (ARUK) and Arthritis Care on marketing Access to Work to their clients, including sharing information about how to apply for the support from the scheme. We work with stakeholders and advisory groups to promote Access to Work. In addition, our jobcentre partnership managers continue to engage with local stakeholders and partners to promote the support available. Access to Work is also promoted to a range of business leaders through the Disability Confident scheme.

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Hannah Bardell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will take steps to pause all benefits sanctions over the Christmas and new year period from 21 December 2018 to 5 of January 2019.

Hannah Bardell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps have been taken to pause benefits sanctions over the Christmas and New Year period since 2010.

Alok Sharma: Sanctions are only used in a small percentage of cases, and that is when people fail to meet their agreed commitments without good reason. When considering whether a sanction is appropriate, a Decision Maker will take all the claimant’s individual circumstances, including any health conditions or disabilities and any evidence of good reason, into account before deciding whether a sanction is warranted. We have not paused sanctions nationwide during the Christmas and New Year period since 2010 and there are no plans to pause sanctions in the upcoming period. This is consistent with the approach taken prior to 2010.

Universal Credit: Mental Illness

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2018 to Question 180727 on universal credit: mental illness, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that vulnerable claimants are fully supported through the managed migration.

Alok Sharma: The Department continues to ensure all vulnerable claimants are fully supported, especially when moving to Universal Credit. That is why we are fully committed to working closely with stakeholders to design how we identify and support those claimants who will need extra help with the process of managed migration. Following the approach of continuously reviewing and improving the Universal Credit service, managed migration will begin with a lengthy period of careful introduction. This will be at a small scale to enable us to optimise our delivery approach for all claimant types. Work Coaches provide continuous support for all claimants, including vulnerable claimants throughout their journey.

Universal Credit

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effect of reducing the waiting period for the payment of universal credit payment on foodbank usage in (a) Edgbaston, (b) the West Midlands and (c) England.

Justin Tomlinson: People use food banks for many reasons and it would be misleading to link them to any single cause. We have made a number of improvements to the waiting period to ensure claimants have enough money to manage until the first Universal Credit payment is made. New claimants to Universal Credit can apply for a 100% advance if they need some financial support until the first regular payment is made, which can be repaid over 16 months from October 2021. Since April 2018, claimants have received a two week run-on of housing benefit payments. From July 2020, income related legacy benefits will continue for two weeks after a claim for Universal Credit has been made. This measure means that around 1.1 million people will see a one-off gain of approximately £200, between 2020/21 and 2023/24.

Universal Credit

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when her Department plans to respond to the recommendations set out in the Work and Pensions Committee report, Universal Support.

Alok Sharma: The Work and Pensions Select Committee recently published its report on Universal Support. We will respond to the Committee’s recommendations in due course.

Employment: Mental Illness

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the effect of mental ill health on the economy.

Sarah Newton: In January 2017, the Prime Minister commissioned Lord Dennis Stevenson and Paul Farmer, the Chief Executive of Mind, to conduct an independent review into how employers can better support all employees, including those with mental ill health or wellbeing, to remain in and thrive at work. Thriving at Work: The Stevenson / Farmer review of mental health and employers was published in October 2017.The Government responded to Thriving at Work through the joint DWP and DHSC Work and Health Unit’s (WHU) Improving Lives: The Future of Work, Health and Disability on 30th November 2017. This response welcomed key recommendations from the review for employers to adopt a set of core and enhanced mental health standards and committed WHU to oversee progress across the review’s 40 recommendations that range from short term deliverables to longer term reform. Government is working with the authors of the review and key stakeholders across the public, private and voluntary sectors to ensure that employers of all sizes act to implement the core and enhanced standards and help them, and their employees, realise the benefits of healthy, inclusive workplaces. One of the actions we have taken is to work with partners, including employers, to develop a framework to support organisations to record and voluntarily report information on disability and mental health in the workplace. This framework was published on 22nd November 2018 and is aimed at large employers with 250 or more employees. The Government believes that transparency and reporting are effective levers in driving the culture change required to build a more inclusive society.

Occupational Pensions

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 8 November 2018 to Question 186293 on Occupational Pensions, if she place in the Library the IORP2 transposition table that is sent to the EU Commission.

Guy Opperman: I will be placing a copy in the Library after it has been submitted to the European Commission.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Brexit

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many non-disclosure agreements his Department has made in relation to preparations for the UK leaving the EU.

David Rutley: The Government has non-disclosure agreements with some private sector organisations. Confidentiality requirements are a common element of contractual obligations and are used by departments to protect commercial considerations; to reflect the sensitive nature of some discussions; and to facilitate conversations that otherwise may not have been able to take place, due to concerns around sensitive information. As part of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, Defra and the UK Government as a whole continue to engage with a wide range of stakeholders.

Biodiversity

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the global rate of biodiversity loss; and what effect that assessment has had on the formulation of his Department's policies.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The UK is a signatory to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), a global endeavour to halt biodiversity loss. As a party to the CBD, the UK collaborates in assessments of biodiversity change, which are published in the Global Biodiversity Outlook series, the flagship publication of the CBD. As such, the government does not do its own assessment of the global rate of biodiversity loss, but it does an assessment of biodiversity loss in this country.   The UK is also a member of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, which in March adopted four regional assessments that evaluate biodiversity and ecosystems services. These assessments provide vital evidence on which to make informed decisions balancing the needs of people and nature in four world regions. In May 2019 the Platform will adopt a new global synthesis of the state of nature and ecosystems, the first such report since the landmark Millennium Ecosystem Assessment was published in 2005.

Air Pollution: Children

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to which schemes and projects with the specific purpose of reducing children’s exposure to air pollution his Department has allocated funding to local authorities from the air quality grant in (a) 2018- 19, (b) 2017-18, (c) 2016-17 and (d) 2015-16; and how much such funding was allocated to each of those schemes and projects in each of those years.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Defra’s Air Quality Grant Programme provides funding to local authorities for projects in local communities to tackle air pollution and reduce emissions affecting schools, businesses and residents. Local authorities have a duty to monitor and assess air quality and to take action to reduce pollution where these breach statutory limits, and are best placed to determine local priorities.Defra awarded a total of £2.4million to local authorities in England from the 2017/18 air quality grant fund; £3.7million was awarded in 2016/17, and £0.5million in 2015/6. £3million has been allocated for 2018/19.Whilst all measures which reduce air pollution will reduce children’s exposure to these harmful pollutants, some projects have elements that are specifically targeted at children. For example:In 2016-17, the London Borough of Islington were awarded £50,000 to run a local school focused awareness and engagement campaign through the air quality grant.In 2017/18, Spelthorne Borough Council were given £145,188 to run an awareness campaign in schools across Surrey.Details of further funding from the Air Quality Grant Programme, including funding specifically directed at children can be found on the Air Quality Grant Programme webpage here:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/air-quality-grant-programme.The Government has also put in place a £3.5billion plan to improve air quality and reduce harmful emissions, which includes £495million for councils to improve air quality. We have consulted on our new world leading Clean Air Strategy, which includes new and ambitious goals, legislation, investment and policies which will help us to clean up our air faster and more effectively.

Food: Imports

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what checks his Department takes to ensure that no insects or pesticides are brought into the UK through food imports.

David Rutley: In EU food law, the expectation is that food is not contaminated. Food must be safe and fit for human consumption. This applies to all food placed on the market (i.e. supplied for profit or not) in EU Member States. Consumers should be provided with information about food which enables them to make safe and informed food choices. Even where foreign bodies found in food which might not in themselves be harmful to health, including insects or other foreign bodies that should not be in the food, or are not described as being part of the food, the food would still likely be deemed ‘unfit for human consumption.’ Food imported into the EU for placing on the market within the EU must comply with the relevant requirements of food law. Importers, distributors and retailers of food are under a statutory obligation to comply with maximum residues levels set for pesticides in food. They must put in place appropriate quality controls to ensure this. This requirement is backed up by a substantial UK Government programme of testing for residues in food and drink; results are published on the GOV.UK website. Controlled plant products are inspected for quarantine pests on a risk basis.

Pesticides

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department's policy will be on time limits for farmers to spread fertiliser after the UK leaves the EU.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: We are committed to meeting our legal obligations, including having set dates for fertiliser spreading under the requirements of the Nitrates Directive. Leaving the EU provides us with an opportunity to review agricultural policy to support farmers and deliver environmental benefits in a way that better reflects UK circumstances, in line with the terms of any future agreement with the EU.

Fisheries: Northern Ireland

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with fishermen in Northern Ireland on the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

George Eustice: There have been extensive, positive and productive discussions between Defra and representatives of the fishing industry in Northern Ireland, most recently following the launch of Defra’s White Paper, Sustainable fisheries for future generations, and following the introduction of the Fisheries Bill.

Smoke Control Areas

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many smoke control areas cover (a) urban areas and (b) rural areas; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The information requested is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs. However, the majority of smoke control areas are urban areas, and our best estimate is that around 40% of urban areas in England and Wales (according to the 2011 Census) are covered by a Smoke Control Order.   Accurate Smoke Control Area information is held by each relevant Local Authority and further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/smoke-control-area-rules.

Air Pollution: Children

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what evaluations his Department has conducted of any measures and schemes specifically designed to reduce children’s exposure to air pollution in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: This is a devolved matter.   For England, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs sets out the national policy framework for tackling harmful air pollution. Local measures, such as those aimed at reducing exposure around schools, are taken by local authorities to whom air quality actions are delegated. While the government has provided funding for local authorities through the Air Quality Grant, including for some schemes specifically aimed at schools, it is for local authorities to assess the outcomes of projects they run.

Incinerators: Health Hazards

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he takes to assess the potential effects on human health of proposed waste incinerators.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: In order to be allowed to operate, waste incinerators must obtain an environmental permit from the Environment Agency. Under environmental permitting, the Environment Agency is responsible for ensuring that the proposed plant will comply with all relevant legislation and that it will not cause significant harm to the environment or human health. Checks that the Environment Agency carries out to assess the potential health effects of proposed waste incinerators include: Making sure that the proposed plant will meet the requirements of relevant European directives, including emission limits and the use of best available techniques to prevent or minimise emissions.Carrying out an environmental impact assessment of emissions from the plant to ensure that it will not give rise to significant pollution or cause environmental standards to be exceeded, and a specific human health risk assessment for dioxin emissions.Taking into account scientific opinion, including advice provided by Public Health England (PHE) on the health effects of incinerators. The Environment Agency also consults PHE, the Food Standards Agency and the relevant local authority’s Director of Public Health for their views on every EfW plant application they receive.

Environment Agency: Reorganisation

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons the (a) finance, (b) human resources and (c) communications functions of the Environment Agency have been moved into the centrally-managed work of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff have been transferred from the Environment Agency to his Department in each month from July 2016 to October 2018; what the reasons were for each of those transfers; and if he will make a statement.

George Eustice: A total of 937 staff members have been transferred from the Environment Agency to Defra since July 2016. All of these staff members were in Corporate Services teams including finance, human resources and communications. IT, commercial, estates, facilities management and shared services staff transferred on 1 November 2017 as part of the Defra Group Corporate Services transformation.   Corporate Services enable the Defra group to operate by providing critical IT systems, HR and finance support, property management, legal advice, and procurement and communications services. Historically, teams have been fragmented across the Defra group, with each delivery body running their own corporate services, working to different policies, processes and systems. Having recognised the cost of complexity from this way of working, we have integrated functional teams across the group in order to drive out inefficiency and improve support to the business. Through this approach we are on track to deliver £124m of savings over the Spending Review 2015 period. At the same time we expect corporate services teams to remain an integrated and integral part of the organisations they support through our business partner-led model.

Recycling: Contamination

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on avoiding contamination in recycling collections.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance his Department provides on the level of cleanliness required for recycled rubbish.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the (a) level and (b) cost to local authorities of contamination in recycled rubbish; and what steps his Department is taking to prevent contamination in recycling.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: With support from the Government, the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has published guidance for local authorities on how to reduce contamination and improve quality in recycling. It also provides advice on its Recycle Now website to householders on how to reduce contamination when recycling. WRAP has also worked with Resource London to publish a toolkit to help local authorities calculate the cost of contamination. The Government has not estimated the costs of contamination for local authorities but has published estimates of the amount of household recyclate that is rejected for recycling every year. In 2016/17, 434,000 tonnes of total household waste was rejected, equating to 4% of the material collected for recycling, composting and reuse. Data from materials sorting facilities shows that 15.2% of the material arriving at registered sorting facilities was regarded as non-target or non-recyclable material in the second quarter of 2018, the most recent period for which statistics are available. We want to increase the quality of material that local authorities collect for recycling. We will announce our plans to achieve this in the upcoming Resources and Waste Strategy.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Brexit

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department plans to respond to the recommendations set out in the Public Accounts Committee report, Defra's progress towards Brexit.

David Rutley: The Department will respond fully to the recommendations set out in the Public Accounts Committee report on Defra’s progress towards Brexit in a Treasury Minute, which will be published by the Treasury Officer of Accounts on 21 January 2019.

Home Office

Deportation: Windrush Generation

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2018 to Question 178272, whether his Department has taken steps to inform the 49 people removed before the establishment of the Windrush Taskforce of the existence of that Taskforce and their right to contact that Taskforce after their removal from the UK.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office has not made a specific attempt to inform those 49 people of the Windrush Taskforce. The Home Office announcements relating to Commonwealth citizens can be found at www.gov.uk/Windrush. This website is regularly updated with information about how individuals who believe they qualify under the Windrush criteria can apply for status under the Windrush Settlement Scheme.Assistance is also available through the Windrush Taskforce helpline on freephone 0800678 1925 or by email at commonwealthtaskforce@homeoffice.gov.uk

Home Office: Brexit

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many non-disclosure agreements his Department has made in relation to preparations for the UK leaving the EU.

Caroline Nokes: Government Departments continue to engage with a wide range of businesses to understand their priorities and issues as we leave the European Union, both to inform our negotiating position, and our preparations in the unlikely event of there being no deal. NDAs are also a common component of contractual arrangements that are used to protect commercial considerations of the parties involved or to protect sensitives around the development of Government policy. It is entirely normal practice to use such agreements and they are therefore sometimes necessary for Government departments that are responsible for managing their preparations for leaving the EU.For the Home Office, this is a complex cross cutting issue which has the potential to affect several Home Office business areas. Specific information relating to EU exit is not held centrally therefore we cannot give a definitive answer. However, to date the Home office has signed over a hundred NDA’s with ports to support EU exit preparations. Non-Disclosure Agreements with our key border delivery partners are crucial in supporting open exchanges of information and opinions about options and scenarios.

Action Fraud

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information his Department holds on the number of people who attempted to make reports of fraud to Action Fraud over the latest 12-month period for which data is available; of those who attempted to make such reports how many were successful over that period; how much enforcement activity was undertaken as a result of those reports; by which police authorities such action was undertaken; how many telephone calls were made to Action Fraud over that period; and, of those calls, how many were answered by Action Fraud.

Mr Ben Wallace: Action Fraud provide online and telephone based services which enable the reporting of both fraud and cyber dependent crime.Between October 2017 and September 2018 the service received 505,497 calls.Of these callers, 314,668 callers spoke to a member of staff. The 190,829 callers that did not speak to a member of staff will include callers that chose to use the online service or callers who waited but did not receive an answer.505,587 reports were made in this period, by phone or online, of which 318,629 were classified as crimes as set out in the Home Office Counting Rules. In the same period 57,181 crimes were disseminated for enforcement, by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), which analyses reports of crime made via Action Fraud. The NFIB disseminated a further 20,075 reports in this period either as intelligence or as a result of concern for the victim, this is in addition to victim based referrals made by contact centre staff direct to their local police force.Force breakdown for outcomes are also available at this webpage https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/crime-outcomes-in-england-and-wales-2017-to-2018

Asylum: Employment

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effect of the restriction on asylum seekers' right to work on dependent children during the 12-month waiting period.

Caroline Nokes: The UK has a proud history of providing protection to those who need it and this Government is committed to delivering a fair and humane asylum system.Whilst the Government has not made such an assessment, our current policy is consistent with EU law and permits asylum seekers to work, in jobs on the Shortage Occupation List, if they have been waiting for a decision on their claim for 12 months or more and the delay is through no fault of their own. We are tackling delays in decision-making and have plans in place to improve the speed at which outstanding claims are decided.  The Government is considering recent calls to change the policy. However, our current approach aims to protect the resident labour market so that any employment meets our needs for skilled labour and distinguishes between those who need protection and those who want to work in the UK, who can apply for a work visa under the Immigration Rules. We need to avoid creating further incentives for migrants, particularly children or those with children, to come here illegally, risking their lives in the process, instead of claiming asylum in the first safe country they reach.It is also important to focus on providing support for those who are recognised as refugees, to help them to integrate and find employment, so that they can rebuild their lives here.

Passports

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many passports were revoked in 2017.

Caroline Nokes: We are unable to provide data on the number of UK passports that were revoked in 2017 as the information is not readily available and could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

Police

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish the technical advice his Department has issued to Chief Constables on the effect on policing and security cooperation in the the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal; and for what reason that information has not been shared with Police and Crime Commissioners.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office is working closely with strategic operational policing leads on policing and security cooperation between the UK and the EU in the context of EU exit.Our preferred scenario is a new legally binding agreement between the UK and the EU on internal security.In a no deal scenario, however, as a responsible Government, we are working with a range of operational partners, including the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).The Home Office has not issued a technical notice in this area. The focus of technical notices is to help businesses and citizens to prepare for EU exit. We are working directly with the NPCC and under “Operation Safety Net”, the NPCC are establishing a new national unit, called the International Crime Co-ordination Centre. Part of the function of this new unit will be to issue technical advice and guidance to forces.Relevant policing leads are also providing updates and briefing to Police and Crime Commissioners about the work of the new unit.

Skilled Workers: Visas

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to pay compensation to people who were wrongly refused Tier 1 general visas on the basis of rule 322(5) of the immigration rules; and if he will make a statement.

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will update the House when his Department has made a decision on the 19 cases for which it is seeking more information from applicants before reconsidering their cases, as set out in the Review of Tier 1 (General) settlement refusals published on 22 November.

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the Tier 1 (general) visa applications refused under paragraph 322(5) of the immigration rules were refused on the basis of (a) criminality or threats to national security and (b) the applicant's character and conduct meaning that it is undesirable for them to remain in the UK.

Caroline Nokes: Each case is being looked at on its merits and we will consider any compensation where appropriate. We will be contacting the 19 applicants from who we need further information with a view to resolving their cases by the end of December. This timescale will depend on how quickly the further information is provided.The review considered 1,697 cases which were refused under paragraph 322(5) on grounds relating to their character and conduct. We are not claiming these applicants are a threat to national security.

European Arrest Warrants

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many outstanding European Arrest Warrants there are in respect of (a) British citizens and (b) non-UK EU citizens accused of criminal offences in the UK.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office does not hold the information requested.However, statistics on the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) are published by the National Crime Agency each year.These figures are published at: http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/publications/european-arrest-warrant-statistics

Home Office: Written Questions

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he plans to respond to Question 190946, tabled on 13 November 2018, by the hon. Member for Oxford West and Abingdon.

Caroline Nokes: The answer to UIN 190946, tabled on 13th November 2018 was answered on 27th November 2018.

Home Office: Written Questions

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason his Department has not answered Question 181253 on Deportation: Windrush Generation, asked on 18 October 2018.

Caroline Nokes: The response for UIN 181253 was answered on 27th November 2018.

Immigration

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of UK citizens and people settled in the UK who have not been joined here by (a) a spouse or partner or (b) a child because they cannot meet the income requirements of the immigration rules on family members.

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he plans to review the income requirements in the immigration rules for family members including their effect on (a) individuals and families and (b) the public purse.

Caroline Nokes: We do not make an estimation of those figures. The Home Office publishes data on the number of visas issued to join family members; this can be accessed at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/734164/entry-visas3-jun-2018-tables.ods. All applicants who do not meet the minimum income requirement will still be considered under exceptional circumstances.We continue to keep the family Immigration Rules under review and make adjustments in light of feedback on their operation and impact. We have also taken into account the findings of the courts, including the Supreme Court judgment upholding the lawfulness of the minimum income re-quirement. Our overall assessment is that the family Immigration Rules are having the right impact and are helping to restore public confidence in the immigration system.

Immigration: EEA Nationals

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he plans to apply the family immigration rules including income requirements to EEA nationals after the UK leaves the EU.

Caroline Nokes: We will publish a White Paper outlining proposals for the future border and immigration system later this year.

Fireworks: Misuse

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidents of fireworks misuse the police were called to attend in each of the last three years.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office does not hold the information requested.

Wales Office

Wales Office: Procurement

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what products featuring (a) departmental and (b) Government branding his Department has procured in each of the last three years.

Nigel Adams: The information below shows the products the Office procured featuring the Departmental/Government name and logo over the last three years. YearProducts Procured featuring Departmental/Government Name and Logo2015-16Business cards, stationery, roll up banners and stands, brochures and booklets for Ministerial events, logo sign.2016-17Business cards, roll up banners and stands, brochures and booklets for Ministerial events, logo sign.2017-18Business cards, roll up banners and stands, brochures and booklets for Ministerial events, logo sign.

Wales Office: Correspondence

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many letters he has received from Members of the House of (a) Commons and (b) Lords in each of the last 12 months.

Alun Cairns: In the past 12 months, the office of the Secretary of State for Wales has formally responded to 46 letters from MPs and 2 letters from Peers. A breakdown by month is provided below. The Secretary of State for Wales also receives copies of letters that do not require responses but this information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.  Secretary of State responses to MPsSecretary of State responses to Peers Junior Ministers responses to MPsDecember 2017002January 2018200February 2018400March 2018000April 2018000May 2018200June 2018502July 2018401August 2018500September 2018211October 2018705November 2018311

Wales Office: Billing

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what percentage of invoices received from his Department's suppliers were paid within 10 days of receipt in each of the last 12 months.

Nigel Adams: The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales paid 90% of undisputed and valid invoices within 10 days of receipt over the last twelve months.

Wales Office: Procurement

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what proportion of procurement contracts were awarded by his Department to SMEs in each of the last three years.

Nigel Adams: The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales receives procurement services from the Ministry of Justice and does not issue contracts directly.

Tourism: Wales

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps the Government is taking to support the Welsh Government to increase sports tourism in Wales.

Alun Cairns: Whilst Tourism is primarily a devolved matter in Wales, the UK Government supports sports tourism throughout the UK at every opportunity, including through Visit Britain and the ‘Great’ campaign. The UK Government also provides support for major international sporting events such as the UEFA Champions League Final, which was held in Cardiff in 2017, and we continue strongly to support bids to host other sporting competitions.

Department for International Development

Pakistan: Schools

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to help tackle bias in schools in Pakistan among children from all faith groups which has led in some cases to false blasphemy accusations.

Alistair Burt: The majority of DFID’s investment in education in Pakistan is undertaken in partnership with the provincial governments in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These investments have supported nearly 10 million children of all faiths in primary and nearly 6 million in secondary schools. In Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa DFID is also supporting provincial governments to train teachers, revise textbooks and curricula to improve content that promotes positive attitudes towards religious and other minorities.

Burma: Rohingya

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent steps her Department has taking to tackle gender-based violence against Rohingya women and girls.

Alistair Burt: We remain deeply concerned about sexual and gender-based violence in the Rohingya crisis. The UK has led the way in speed and scale of response to the Rohingya crisis, providing £129 million in funding since August 2017, and we are prioritising protecting and safeguarding women and girls.Our latest funding will reach over 250,000 people with sexual and reproductive health services including targeted training, support to deal with gender-based violence and family planning.

Developing Countries: Fossil Fuels

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much and what proportion of Official Development Assistance funding has been allocated to fossil fuel projects in each year since 2010.

Harriett Baldwin: DFID does not allocate money to help countries develop specific types of fuel. Our energy assistance is based on the requirements of individual developing countries, and often helps develop clean and renewable energy. A portion of energy assistance has supported the use of non-renewable energy including fossil fuels, such as natural gas. The Statistics on International Development provides information on support for energy, including non-renewable energy, for bilateral assistance and the UK’s share of multilateral assistance. Figures from 2010 to 2016, the most recently available year, are shown in the table below. Year2010201120122013201420152016UK ODA support for non-renewable energy £m674213979602045Non-renewable ODA as % of total ODA0.8%0.5%1.6%0.7%0.5%0.2%0.3%

Cabinet Office

Rendition and Torture: Inquiries

Ian Murray: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions the Government has had with (a) President Trump, (b) members of the US administration and (c) senior officials in the US administration on an independent judge-led inquiry into UK involvement in torture and rendition.

Mr David Lidington: I can confirm that there have been no discussions.

Domestic Visits: Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath

Lesley Laird: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the locations of all UK ministerial visits to Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency since the 2010 general election.

Mr David Lidington: The Cabinet Office does not hold this information centrally. Details of Ministers’ overseas travel and their meetings with external organisations are published quarterly and are available on GOV.UK.

Cancer: Children

Jim Shannon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate his Department has made of the number of children with cancer in the UK.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA response 
(PDF Document, 151.8 KB)

Rendition and Torture

Tom Brake: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether officials of his Department have had discussions with the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency on whether to launch an independent, judge-led inquiry into UK complicity in torture and rendition.

Mr David Lidington: It is the longstanding policy of successive British Governments not to comment on intelligence matters.

Civil Servants

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on the socio-economic background of civil servants employed in each Government Department; and if he will make a statement.

Oliver Dowden: The Cabinet Office holds data on socio-economic background (SEB) in the following ways: from applications to the Fast Stream graduate programme and the centrally run accelerated development schemes, including the Future Leaders’ Scheme (FLS), the High Potential Development Scheme (HPDS) and the Senior Leaders’ Scheme (SLS) and is piloting other ways of gaining data, on a voluntary and anonymous basis, including from the annual People Survey, in future years. The SEB measures are questions which the Civil Service developed over two years to assess socio-economic background. The Civil Service Fast Stream has been recording socioeconomic background data of its applicants since 2011. The Civil Service Future Leaders Scheme (FLS) and Senior Leaders Scheme (SLS) have been recording SEB data from its applicants since 2016. The Civil Service High Potential Development Scheme have been recording SEB data from its applicants since 2017. Individual departments may have undertaken surveys of the socio-economic background of their employees, but this is not held by the Cabinet Office.

Cybercrime

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to ensure the protection of the UK's critical infrastructure from cyberattack; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Lidington: I refer the Right Honourable Member to the answer given by Lord Young of Cookham to Lord Haskel on Wednesday 21 November, Official Report, HL column 238.

Treasury

Buckingham Palace: Honours

Emily Thornberry: To ask the ,Chancellor of the Exchequer  what estimate he has made of the contribution to the public purse from sales of (a) digital versatile discs and (b) photographs of the presentation of official honours at Buckingham Palace in the financial years (i) 2015-16, (ii) 2016-17, (iii) 2017-18 and (iv) 2018-19 to date.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what net profit has accrued to the public purse from (a) the filming and sale of digital versatile discs and (b) the capture and sale of photographs whose images were taken during the presentation of official honours at Buckingham Palace in the financial years (i) 2015-16, (ii) 2016-17, (iii) 2017-18 and (iv) 2018-19 to date.

Robert Jenrick: The Royal Household receives income from granting access to organisations who create and sell the items mentioned in the question. This is in line with the Royal Household’s framework agreement with HM Treasury, under which it seeks to optimise income from non-Treasury sources where this is consistent with the main functions of the Sovereign Grant. Information on the income is commercially sensitive. However, income supplementing the Sovereign Grant is summarised in the Annual Report and Accounts of the Sovereign Grant.

Welfare Tax Credits

Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many child tax credit and working tax credit cases are waiting over 30 days for a mandatory reconsideration.

Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many child tax credit and working tax credit cases are waiting over 40 days for a mandatory reconsideration.

Elizabeth Truss: The total number of tax credits cases that are waiting over 30 days for a mandatory reconsideration is 859. This figure is inclusive of all claims with Child Tax Credit and/or Working Tax Credits. The total number of tax credits cases that are waiting over 40 days for a mandatory reconsideration is 40. This figure is inclusive of all claims with Child Tax Credit and/or Working Tax Credits.

Children: Day Care

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to recent data from the Office for Budget Responsibility, whether he plans to allocate the estimated underspend on tax-free childcare to the Department for Education to spend on early years education.

Elizabeth Truss: This Government is committed to supporting families and we will be spending around £6 billion every year by 2019/20 on childcare support – more than ever before. We expect awareness and take-up of Tax-Free Childcare to increase in line with OBR forecasts as we continue to increase communications promoting the offer, including the launch of a national marketing campaign in September 2018

A303 and Lower Thames Crossing: Private Finance Initiative

Stella Creasy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 21 November 2018 to Question 185590 on A303 and Lower Thames Crossing: Private Finance Initiative, whether the upgrade of the A303 and the Lower Thames Crossing will not include private finance; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of that upgrade.

Elizabeth Truss: Pursuant to the answer to Question 185590 on A303 and Lower Thames Crossing: Private Finance Initiative, private finance will not be used for the upgrade of the A303 and the Lower Thames Crossing. The estimated cost of developing and building the Lower Thames Crossing, as set out in Highways England’s public consultation on 10 October 2018, was between £5.3bn and £6.8 bn. The estimated cost of developing and building the A303 Stonehenge scheme, as set out at the Preferred Route Announcement in September 2017, was £1.6bn. Highways England continue to refine cost estimates as they develop the business cases for these schemes.

Computer Software: VAT

Matt Western: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to introduce free VAT reporting software for small businesses as part of the introduction of the Making Tax Digital system in April 2019.

Mel Stride: The government is not planning to introduce any software for taxpayers as part of the introduction of Making Tax Digital (MTD). Instead, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is working closely with third party software developers, giving them the support they need to design and develop products that will enable taxpayers to comply quickly, easily and securely with their MTD obligations. The eligibility criteria for free software under MTD is set out in Annex C of the document covering the relationship between HMRC and software developers. The document can be found at : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/making-tax-digital-software-suppliers-terms-of-collaboration/terms-of-collaboration-between-hm-revenue-and-customs-and-software-developers

Treasury: Brexit

Layla Moran: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 21 November 2018 to Question 190947 on Treasury: Brexit, for what reasons the Answer did not specify the number of non-disclosure agreements his Department has with private sector organisations; and if he will allow information on (a) the number of and (b) which companies have entered non-disclosure agreements to be made available to all hon. Members.

John Glen: As I said in my previous answer, the Government continues to engage with a large number of stakeholders as part of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, and the sensitive nature of some discussions means that NDAs are required to facilitate conversations that otherwise may not have been able to take place. This information is not held centrally by HMT and could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Sanitary Protection: VAT

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the potential cost to the public purse of abolishing VAT on sanitary products in each of the next five years.

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on a potential timeframe for the abolition of  VAT on sanitary products.

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what equality impact assessment his Department has undertaken under the Equality Act 2010 on (a) gender and (b) other protected characteristics of the level of VAT on sanitary products.

Mel Stride: HMRC estimates that VAT receipts from the sale of women’s sanitary products were approximately £15 million in each of the last five years. The Government does not anticipate any significant change in the foreseeable future. The exchequer cost of introducing a zero rate of VAT for women’s sanitary products would therefore be approximately £15 million per year. In January 2018, the European Commission brought forward a legislative proposal with an implementation date of 2022 to enhance Member States’ flexibility to apply reduced and zero rates of VAT. This proposal remains under discussion between officials and, if agreed to by Member States, would give the UK the legal ability to zero rate women’s sanitary products. In Finance Act 2016, the Government committed to apply a zero rate of VAT to women’s sanitary products as soon as legally possible. In line with both our legal responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 and the Government’s strong commitment to gender equality, ministers carefully consider the impacts for women, along with the impacts for others sharing protected characteristics, when developing fiscal and other policies.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Life Chances Fund

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much of the Life Chances Fund remains to be spent.

Mims Davies: The Life Chances Fund (LCF) is an £80m fund to help people in society who face the most significant barriers to leading happy and productive lives. It provides top-up contributions to locally commissioned Social impact Bonds (SIBs) that aim to tackle complex social problems. All of the £80m Life Chances Fund has been awarded in principle to local commissioners, including local authorities and clinical commissioning groups. These commissioners are at various stages of designing and delivering the projects. Approximately £6,435,350 has so far been spent, leaving £73,564,650. £5m of the spend to date has been devolved directly to Greater Manchester Combined Authority, with the remainder covering programme costs including the application process and support with setting up projects. Payments for outcomes delivered by the new services are scheduled to begin in early 2019 and continue for the next six years.

Social Impact Bonds

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much profit has been distributed to investors in social impact bonds since 2010.

Mims Davies: A range of national and local commissioners have used social impact bonds and DCMS does not routinely collect data on investor returns associated with these contracts.

Data Protection

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many prosecutions have commenced as a result of alleged breaches of the General Data Protection Regulations since May 2018.

Margot James: Most breaches of the GDPR are not criminal offences and would not therefore be subject to criminal prosecution. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) can, however, impose large administrative fines on organisations which fail to comply. The very worst data breaches, including those involving the unlawful obtaining or disclosure of data, may be subject to criminal prosecution under the Data Protection Act 2018. Investigations into offences committed since the Act came into force in May 2018 have not yet reached the prosecution stage.

Arts: EU Grants and Loans

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government plans to remain part of Creative Europe after the current funding period concludes in 2020.

Margot James: The UK will always be a European country that advocates for cultural diversity as part of its global identity and is committed to continuing its contribution to and support of European culture. The Government has been clear that will be explore participation in any successor programme to Creative Europe. Where EU funding programmes are to the UK and EU's joint advantage, we want to discuss continued participation as part of the negotiations. Ultimately, the decision on which programmes are in the UK’s interests will be decided as part of the future partnership negotiations, which are ongoing.

Athletics

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how his Department plans to track progress on athlete welfare within UK Sport-affiliated organisations.

Mims Davies: The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport reports annually on the Sporting Future strategy, which includes a range of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Athlete welfare is captured by KPI 25, which tracks the percentage of UK Sport-funded athletes who feel cared about as a person in their World Class Performance Programme, as measured by UK Sport’s Culture Health Check survey. The latest report can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sporting-future-second-annual-report.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: GoldenTree Asset Management

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether (a) he or (b) officials from his Department have (i) met or (ii) been in correspondence with representatives from GoldenTree Asset Management since his appointment.

Jeremy Wright: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 27 November 2018.The correct answer should have been:

I updated the House on Monday 19th November regarding Johnston Press. Johnston Press had a number of creditors including Golden Tree Asset Management, Fidelity, Caravel Asset Management, and Benefits Street Partners. As I set out on 19 November, a consortium of creditors formed JPI Media to take over the assets of Johnston Press. DCMS has been in contact with a number of stakeholders in relation to the takeover.:I spoke with David King (Chief Executive of JPI Media) and John Ensall (Director at JPI Media). Officials at DCMS have also spoken to representatives of Johnston Press and JPI Media.

Jeremy Wright: I updated the House on Monday 19th November regarding Johnston Press. Johnston Press had a number of creditors including Golden Tree Asset Management, Fidelity, Caravel Asset Management, and Benefits Street Partners. As I set out on 19 November, a consortium of creditors formed JPI Media to take over the assets of Johnston Press. DCMS has been in contact with a number of stakeholders in relation to the takeover.:I spoke with David King (Chief Executive of JPI Media) and John Ensall (Director at JPI Media). Officials at DCMS have also spoken to representatives of Johnston Press and JPI Media.

GVC Holdings

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish the (a) dates and minutes of meetings and (b) correspondence between the Government and GVC Holdings PLC in the last 12 months; and whether the timing of the vote on the FOBT Statutory Instrument was raised in either case.

Jeremy Wright: Details of Ministerial meetings are published on a quarterly basis on gov.uk. Details about such meetings, including minutes are confidential - to allow full and frank discussions between parties. Ladbrokes Coral (who have since been acquired by GVC Holdings PLC) were one of the attendees at a roundtable with the former Minister for Sport and Civil Society on 7 March 2018 to discuss the Consultation on Proposals for Changes to Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility Measures. The current Minister for Sport and Civil Society and I have not met representatives of GVC Holding PLC since being appointed.

Church Commissioners

Charitable Donations

Deidre Brock: To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Church Commissioners have made of trends in the level of demand for charitable donations since 2010.

Dame Caroline Spelman: The underlying financial health of the Church of England’s parishes is a testament to the generosity of the commitment of congregations and local communities across the country. The most recent assessment of Church of England parish finances relate to 2016 when total giving to the 12,400 parishes was £3million more than the previous year. Between 2010 and 2016 total giving increased by 8.5%. The figures also show that in 2016 Church of England parishes donated £46 million to supporting other charities working in the UK around the world, from foodbanks and local children's charities to international aid appeals. Detailed figures for giving and charitable donations can be found in the 2016 Parish Finances Statistics here: https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2018-10/2016ParishFinanceStatistics.pdf

Churches: Repairs and Maintenance

Deidre Brock: To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what support the Church Commissioners receive from Her Majesty's Government to enable them to maintain (a) redundant and (b) under-utilised churches.

Dame Caroline Spelman: The Church Commissioners receive no direct Government support for maintaining redundant or under-utilised churches. The Church Commissioners and DCMS provide financial support for the Churches Conservation Trust, which cares for redundant churches of special architectural significance, and for which no suitable alternative use can be found. The Grants to the Churches Conservation Trust Order 2016, (which can be found here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2016/9780111142738) sets out the basis of Government funding from 1st April 2016 to 31st March 2020.

Northern Ireland Office

Johnston Press: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the effect on local and regional newspapers in Northern Ireland of the pre-pack rescue of Johnston Press; and if she will make a statement.

John Penrose: My deepest sympathies go out to anyone facing uncertainty as a result of the changes at Johnston Press. The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has made an assessment of the challenges facing local and regional newspapers, both from the resale of Johnston Press and more broadly, in the whole of the UK including Northern Ireland. Details can be found at: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2018-11-19/debates/52FF3860-684F-4B20-AD52-2B9687FE4E2B/JohnstonPressAdministration?highlight=johnston%20press#contribution-4ECFBDD7-91BF-4FD0-9600-1473DFBD8C78.

Police: Injuries

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, for what reason she has not replied to correspondence dated 21 September 2018 from the Police advice and support services in Northern Ireland on deductions from Injury on Duty awards.

John Penrose: I am afraid the Department cannot trace ever receiving the original hard copy letter from Police advice and support services, but it is now in the system and is marked for an urgent response.